The Swarm 2021

Virginie, a widow and devoted single mother, resides in the serene countryside of France, where she juggles life with her two children, Laura and Gaston. Despite her efforts, she struggles to raise locusts for protein, a venture that has turned into more of a disappointment than a success, particularly for her daughter who feels embarrassed by their unusual choice of sustenance. Previously, the family tended to goats during the time when Virginie’s husband, Nico, was alive. However, following his tragic death—an event hinted to be a suicide—the focus shifted to locusts, which are proving to be a failed endeavor. Virginie’s financial situation grows increasingly dire as her locusts fail to reproduce in sufficient numbers.

In a surprising turn, Gaston makes a startling discovery: the locusts seem drawn to flesh and blood after one of his pet locusts feeds on a wound on his hand. Simultaneously, Laura finds herself in conflict with Kévin, a classmate who mocks her and their family in derogatory online videos. Adding to Virginie’s struggles, she is frustrated that people only purchase her locusts out of pity, which leads her to a moment of rage where she angrily destroys the nests in her enclosure. Unfortunately, she slips in the chaos and loses consciousness. Upon regaining her senses, she is horrified to find the locusts feeding on wounds on her arm, prompting her to flee the scene.

The following night, the locusts surge with renewed vigor. In a desperate act, Virginie partially opens the enclosure, allowing them to feed from her now exposed, unbandaged arm. This bold move triggers an astonishing increase in the locust population, enabling her to sell large quantities. However, this newfound success comes at a price: Virginie must continue providing them with blood and flesh. Meanwhile, Laura grows increasingly alarmed by her mother’s disturbing fixation on the locusts. In a fit of rage, she tears open one of the greenhouses, unleashing a swarm that goes on to attack Gaston’s goat, Huguette, tied to a truck nearby.

When Virginie returns from town and hears Gaston’s distress about Huguette being taken by the locusts, she learns of the greenhouse incident caused by Laura. After discovering Huguette covered in locusts in a field, Virginie chooses to keep this tragic revelation from Gaston. As her mental state deteriorates due to the demands of the locusts, she becomes increasingly isolated, distancing herself from friends such as Karim. The open wounds on her body become another painful secret she can’t share, and intimacy with Karim becomes difficult for her.

Eventually, Gaston gets his chance to attend a long-desired soccer camp, but it’s Laura who delivers him, as Virginie has been up all night nurturing the locusts. Upon returning home, Laura stumbles upon her mother’s room, a gruesome sight of bloodied clothing strewn across the floor. In a rush of panic, she dashes to the greenhouses, only to discover Virginie in an unsettling situation, being devoured by locusts. Desperate for help, Laura texts Karim about her mother’s alarming state.

In an attempt to bring some levity, Karim invites the family for a movie night. However, when he finds himself alone with Laura in the kitchen, she struggles to confide in him about her mother’s plight, only managing to mention the locusts. Tension escalates when Virginie arrives, leading to a confrontation that ends with Karim insisting that Laura shouldn’t return home. Later that evening, the neighbor ventures into the greenhouses searching for his missing dog, only to meet a tragic end—an outcome that is soon discovered by Karim, who realizes the horrifying truth of Virginie’s secret. In a moment of panic, he grabs gasoline to ignite the greenhouses in an attempt to end the nightmare.

As the chaos unfolds, locusts break free and swarm toward the house where Karim and Laura have taken refuge. Hearing Laura’s screams, Virginie rushes into the house, only to find Karim being overwhelmed by the insects. Amid the frenzy, Laura manages to escape into the woods, chased by the relentless swarm. In a tense moment of survival, she hides beneath an overturned boat on a lake, while the locusts threaten to drown her.

In a heroic act of love, Virginie sacrifices herself, cutting her palms to attract the locusts away from Laura. As the swarm turns on her, Laura emerges from her hiding place and swims towards her mother, ultimately embracing her in a poignant moment. Together, they face the remnants of the swarm as dawn breaks, signifying a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair.