The Imperialists Are Still Alive!

Set amongst the fashion and art bohemia of New York City, this satiric comedy drama owes much to the early films of Jean-Luc Godard with its fashionable portrait of revolutionary chic. The director ponders with wry amusement the cool but troubled lives of wealthy Manhattan ex-pats who deal with the twin burdens of fame and paranoia.

French actress Elodie Bouchez stars as a performance artist who lives in a spacious loft that is usually filled with her assortment of model, actor and privileged friends. The bar-hopping tendencies of these urban sophisticates, with their stretch limousines, show dogs and lavish lifestyles, contrasts with their political sensibilities as socialist provocateurs. In the aftermath of 9/11, when foreigners became instantly suspect, the mood changes dramatically and the foreigners-on-a-visa must contemplate where their future truly lies.