Cortisol

In a near-future society obsessed with emotional regulation, a brilliant but reclusive neuroscientist develops a controversial technology to synthetically suppress stress hormones. When her estranged daughter becomes entangled in a black market for illicit emotional enhancers, the scientist must confront the ethical implications of her creation and the true nature of human feeling. The film explores themes of control, freedom, and the essential role of difficult emotions in the human experience.

Cortisol was met with mixed to positive reviews, with critics often praising its ambitious concept and central performances, particularly Huppert's. However, some found the pacing uneven and the philosophical arguments occasionally underdeveloped. Audiences were divided, with some appreciating its thought-provoking narrative and others finding it too bleak or intellectually dense.

• A visually striking and intellectually stimulating sci-fi drama.

• Huppert delivers a commanding performance as a scientist wrestling with her creation.

• The film raises pertinent questions about emotional suppression, though its narrative occasionally falters.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's unique premise and its exploration of futuristic themes. Many viewers praised the acting and the movie's thought-provoking nature, though some found the plot less engaging than expected or wished for a more emotionally resonant conclusion.

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

The sterile, minimalist aesthetic of the film's future society was heavily inspired by mid-century Scandinavian design and brutalist architecture, intended to reflect a society striving for order and control.