Written and directed by Gaspar Noé (CLIMAX, ENTER THE VOID) LUX ÆTERNA takes place backstage of a French film production, often utilizing split-screens to follow two characters at once. Charlotte Gainsbourg, acting as herself, plays the film’s — and the film-within-a-film’s — leading role of an actress taking on the role of a witch burned at the stake while French actress Béatrice Dalle, playing a version of herself as well, takes on the on-screen role of director. The film progresses with mounting tension as the set descends into aggressive chaos and psychotic outbreaks — both in style, form, and plot – before divulging into complete chaos. Actress and model Abbey Lee (THE NEON DEMON), Karl Glusman (LOVE), Claude-Emmanuelle Gajan-Maull (CLIMAX), Félix Maritaud (SAUVAGE / WILD KNIFE + HEART), and Clara Deshayes also appear as interpretations of themselves.

“The closing moments of Lux Æterna are such a disturbing outburst of light, color, and 3-D illusions they might make even stereoscopic auteur Ken Jacobs avert his eyes.” (IndieWire)

“A fascinating sensory experience. It will either be exactly the nightmarish dreamscape one hopes for or the repellant fascinations of boundary pusher run amok.” (Ioncinema)

“Moves from comic improvisational chatter to anarchic chaos and violence featuring beautiful people.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

Monday, June 9
Doors 6:15 pm | Movie 6:45 pm
Advance single film tickets HERE | $13 at the door
*Please note: This film contains bright lights and flashing which may be distressing to those with photo-sensitivities.

Why not make it a Gaspar Noé double bill with LUX ÆTERNA at 6:45 pm & VORTEX at 8:15 pm for one sweet price!
Advance double bill tickets HERE | $18 at the door

*Minors permitted. Must be 19+ for bar service. Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*If you are looking to redeem your tickets to either a canceled Rio Theatre screening or a Rio Theatre gift certificate, please email <[email protected]> with info including your name, canceled receipt number, gift certificate info, what you are wanting to see and when, and we can make the switch for you in advance. Alternately, you can bring this information with you to the venue, and we will do our best to help you at the box office.

LUX ÆTERNA (Gaspar Noé, 2022 / 18A / 51 mins) Two actresses, Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg, are on a film set telling stories about witches – but that’s not all. ‘Lux Æterna’ is also an essay on cinema, the love of film, and on-set hysterics.