La Langue

Picture this: you’re about to watch a video on YouTube, but first, you have to sit through a forced advertisement. This ad introduces La Langue – a fictional toothbrush that mimics the movements of a human tongue. This bizarre yet meticulously designed product is presented as an essential item for personal hygiene.

To add to the satire, we created a fully functional website (www.lalangue.fr) featuring La Langue. The site is entirely in French, giving off an air of legitimacy, but frustrating any attempts to actually purchase the product.

  • Béla Baptiste
    Director
    The Obelisk, Rental Husband, The Dutchman’s Pipe, Angst, Percht
  • Béla Baptiste
    Producer
    The Obelisk, Rental Husband, The Dutchman’s Pipe, Angst, Percht
  • Béla Baptiste
    Writer
    The Obelisk, Rental Husband, The Dutchman’s Pipe, Angst, Percht
  • Béla Baptiste
    Editors
    The Obelisk, Rental Husband, The Dutchman’s Pipe, Angst, Percht
  • Martina Karra
    Key Cast
  • Douglas Joyman
    Key Cast
  • Edward Bally
    Cinematographer
  • Adrian Hashimi
    Storyboard
  • Robert Taylor
    Props
  • Jakob Friderichs
    Music
  • Eli Freireich
    Gaffer
  • Eli Freireich
    1st AC
  • Anna Zinenko
    1st AD
  • Rava Raab
    PA’s
  • Alexey Hartlieb-Shea
    PA’s
  • Merideth Ivy
    HMU
  • Dani Cardona
    Location
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy
  • Runtime:
    53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 14, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • San Jose Internation Short Film Festival
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    October 25, 2024
Director Biography - Béla Baptiste

Béla Baptiste: Born in Berlin, he developed his love for filmmaking while growing up immersed in Paris’s rich theater and opera scene. He later moved to Vienna, where he earned an MFA in film directing from the Filmakademie Wien, where Michael Haneke taught.

As a director, he values understanding the process from both sides of the lens. His work as an actor has shaped his approach, particularly his role as narrator Dieter Albrecht with the closing words in Martin Scorsese’s Silence.

His most recent project is The Obelisk, a feature film following the success of The Dutchman’s Pipe, a commissioned short film. Currently, he is in pre-production for The Box, a full-length adaptation of a theater play.

At the core of his work lies a fascination with the juxtaposition of opposing forces—a recurring theme in his storytelling. He also embraces humor as a powerful narrative tool, believing that “we can laugh about everything, but not with everyone.”

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Director Statement

In today’s society, our wants and needs are constantly shaped by
fleeting advertisements and the promise of innovation, leaving us to question the necessity and absurdity of the products we consume. This project delves into the surreal experience of digital consumption and the creation of unnecessary desires.

Through this project, we aim to ask: why do objects of desire
exist? What compels us to constantly seek out the newest thing,
even when it seems completely ludicrous?

This artwork challenges viewers to reflect on consumerism and the
often ridiculous lengths it drives us to. It encourages introspection on the true value of the products we encounter and the motivations behind their creation. In a world bombarded with advertisements, what truly holds importance and what is merely a result of our insatiable thirst for novelty?