[Fantasia ’26] ‘Parallel Gazes’ review: Absurd & deep crime thriller

Parallel Gazes (Les Regards Paralleles) is a comedic crime thriller that made its international premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival. Felicien longs to become a top-tier criminal and run his grandmother’s business. He partners with Jean-Jacques in a daring theft of a luxury car. Things do not go as planned as the two criminals along with Jean-Jacques’ girlfriend Madeleine try to make sure their heist a success.

The film is minimalist almost to a fault. There are no grand set pieces or lavish locations. This gives the world of Parallel Gazes a lived in look and feel. It also makes the characters relatable. Every person in the movie is someone we could have met or seen in real life. This is important since this is character-driven and dialogue heavy. The criminal activities are just the backdrop to the story being told. The shoot-outs have a stage play feel to them, though this may be intentional.

More than anything Parallel Gazes is a meditation on the meaning of life. Felicien tries to come off as the coolest guy in the room, but he is an insecure man trying to fulfill a dream. Jean-Jacques and Madeleine are just two lovers who think about their future. 

Parallel Gaze is stylish and absurd. The music is jaunty and silly while the character exchanges are deep and whimsical. Writer-director Vincent Bonin-Arena covers a lot of his ground, but it is a captivating watch filled with laugh out loud moments.

The Fantasia Film Festival takes place from July 16 – August 2.