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A writer's affair might be imaginary—Frankenheimer makes you doubt your own eyes.
TMDB
43
IMDb
52

Impossible Object (1973)

reality-bendingexistential haze1970s cerebral

Overview

Drama

Harry is a married writer who has an affair with a woman whose husband knows that she is unfaithful. As a result of his work, Harry has trouble distinguishing between fantasy and reality leaving us to wonder whether the affair is real or just a figment of Harry's imagination.

Flag of ITITFlag of FRFRFrench
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Direction

Frankenheimer fractures narrative like Harry fractures his own life.

Acting

Bates carries crushing ambiguity in every glance.

Cinematography

Dreamlike 70s grain that refuses to anchor reality.

Best for:Solo: Late night when you want to question your own sanity.·Rewatch: Second viewing hits different once you know the game.
Heads up:Emotional: Bleak meditation on loneliness and creative emptiness.
John Frankenheimer

Director

John Frankenheimer

ReleasedMay 24, 1973
Runtime1h 53m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy
Euro International Films
ABC

Top Cast

Alan Bates

Alan Bates

Harry

Dominique Sanda

Dominique Sanda

Natalie

Michel Auclair

Michel Auclair

Georges

Evans Evans

Evans Evans

Elizabeth

Paul Crauchet

Paul Crauchet

The Plumber

Lea Massari

Lea Massari

Hippolyta

Henri Czarniak

Henri Czarniak

Vernon Dobtcheff

Vernon Dobtcheff

Private Investigator

Laurence de Monaghan

Laurence de Monaghan

Cleo

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Insight

Frankenheimer called this his 'most personal film,' adapting a novel by his friend Christopher Isherwood while grappling with his own marriage's collapse.

Trivia

The film was shelved for two years and barely released; Frankenheimer claimed studio executives 'didn't know what they'd bought' and feared audiences would feel similarly lost.

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