The Falling Star (2024): Release date, trailer, plot, and everything we know so far

Scheduled to premiere on August 30, 2024, the much-awaited The Falling Star (2024) is expected to hit theaters in the US. This "caper comedy" and slapstick spoof on film noir is the latest work from the writing and directing team of Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon.

Inspired by the thèâtre de l'absurde, the film unexpectedly veers toward a more melancholic tone and conveys hopelessness despite its humorous genre. The Falling Star presents a singular cinematic experience that should captivate viewers with its unusual mix of humor and misery.

The story of The Falling Star centers on Boris, a former activist with a sinister past who now hides from his former life behind a bartender in an underground bar. When a one-armed vigilante called Georges — played by Bruno Romy — tries to kill Boris, the narrative veers wildly.

His mechanical arm breaks, though, so his attempt fails. Boris's wife comes up with a scheme involving Dom, a man exactly like Boris, which sets off a sequence of ridiculous and perplexing events to flee the danger.

Movie buffs have piqued their curiosity about The Falling Star's trailer, as it presents a mix of dark humor and intricate character dynamics that promise a provocative viewing experience.

The official synopsis of the movie mentions:

"The slapstick and burlesque of Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel (THE FAIRY, LOST IN PARIS) delight audiences. Through their colorful palette and clownish plot twists, their latest "crime movie" transforms film noir. Abel plays Boris, a former activist who hides as a barkeeper until a one-armed vigilante finally finds him."

It adds:

"Abel's depressive recluse Dom seems like the perfect decoy. Their master plan could be foiled by his stubborn and crazy ex-wife, private eye Fiona (Gordon). To match the social mood, Abel and Gordon's deceptively minimalistic set pieces are full of Tati and Keaton-inspired cinematic intelligence. Philippe Martz, Bruno Romy, and Japanese dancer Kaori Ito play canny and unpredictable femme fatales."

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What happened in The Falling Star?

In The Falling Star (2024), the story follows Boris, a former activist hiding from his past as a bartender in a dimly lit bar.

The tranquility of his life is shattered when Georges, a one-armed vigilante, storms into the bar and attempts to assassinate him. Georges’s plan goes awry when his mechanical arm malfunctions, leading to a failed assassination attempt.

To protect Boris, his wife Kayoko sends the bar’s bouncer to find Dom, a man who looks exactly like Boris. Unaware of the imminent danger, Dom is thrown into a chaotic situation, while Fiona, a detective and Boris’ ex-wife, stumbles into this mess while searching for a missing dog.

The film features Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon's signature dark humor and absurdity. Concurrent romance, personal growth and existential despair make up its complex plot.

Cast details

In The Falling Star (2024), Dominique Abel plays the dual roles of Boris and Dom, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Fiona Gordon, meanwhile, takes on the role of Fiona, a detective entangled in the chaotic events surrounding Boris and Dom.

A scene from The Falling Star (Image via Kino Lorber)

The cast also includes Kaori Ito as Kayoko, Boris’s wife, who orchestrates the plan to save him, and Bruno Romy as Georges, the one-armed vigilante. Other notable cast members include Philippe Martz as Tim, Bruce Ellison as Homer and Céline Laurentie as Patricia.

The Falling Star (2024) combines dark comedy, film noir and absurdist theater. The film, following Boris, Dom and Fiona's complicated lives with humor and despair, turns out to be intriguing and thought-provoking.