Reality often stretches the truth, and many of the Sitges festival staff members recognize it. Eve Green also shares that sense after catching a screening of Dreamers by Bertolucci in a Paris teetering on the edge of upheaval in 1968. A provocative project unfolds there, one that remains tethered to daily life even as it pushes beyond its boundaries. The latest example is Nocebo, anOfficial Fantàstic Competition entry, a supernatural thriller from Lorcan Finnegan who previously glimpsed the harsher sides of reality in his hallucinatory Vivarium.
Green is thrilled by the film’s progress as Finnegan revealed at Sitges that the project marks the first collaboration between Ireland and the Philippines. The story centers on Christine, a successful designer of children’s clothing, whose life takes a dramatic turn over a few months following a strange encounter with a dog that unsettles her. Christine struggles with memory lapses, insomnia, and tremors, but her husband Felix offers reassurance that the symptoms are all in her head. A Filipino assistant named Diana arrives at their door, seemingly unaware that Christine has requested help, and she appears to hold a key to understanding the troubling events. Yet the air itself seems charged with menace, suggesting that the nightmare is only beginning.
Green has always been drawn to the uncanny and recently found a renewed sense of resonance with Vivarium. He explains in a candid interview that he was drawn to the Nocebo script by its gripping psychological tension and its social resonance. Finnegan has indicated that the role aligns perfectly with Eva Green’s fearless approach to complex, controversial characters, and that the film provides a fertile ground for exploring political and moral questions that feel urgent in today’s world.
Against fast fashion
There is more to Nocebo than its eerie atmosphere. The film probes the impact of gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation that can distort a person’s sense of reality. As the plot unfolds, Christine faces pressure to doubt her own perceptions, while medical authorities become a source of tension rather than trust. The narrative echoes concerns raised by researchers about how easily women can be dismissed when they report illness or distress. The tension escalates as the characters seek truth amid a fog of misdirection and fear.
In addition to its psychological depths, the film offers a pointed critique of consumer culture. Green speaks frankly about the toll of fast fashion on the environment and on human rights. He notes that the industry is a major contributor to climate change and that much of the clothing produced ends up in landfills rather than being recycled. He challenges viewers to consider the real cost of inexpensive garments and to rethink habits that encourage wasteful consumption. His message is direct: if a shirt costs very little, it should be worn many times, not discarded after a single use.
A legendary Bond connection
The cast includes a line of connections to the wider world of cinema. The late mother of a renowned actress and a dental professional who once aspired to the stage lent a certain glamour to the project as Christine navigates stardom and the pressure of public life. The storyline nods to classic screen romances and tragic love triangles, evoking memory of legendary moments in cinema while charting a contemporary course for a character who must decide where truth ends and performance begins. The dialogue echoes the wit and economy of memorable screen exchanges, and the overall tone blends sharp humor with aching emotion, lifting the film above generic genre trappings.
The film’s creative team has a long track record in suspenseful storytelling. The screenwriter behind major Bond entries has contributed to the texture of Nocebo, and the production is poised to attract a broad audience with its blend of psychological intrigue and social commentary. A forthcoming English–French TV collaboration on Apple TV+ explores similar themes of power, perception, and identity, underscoring a moment when cinema and television increasingly converge in bold, ambitious storytelling. The cast and crew embrace this shift, ready to push boundaries while crafting stories that feel both timely and timeless.