Arthur Harari’s The Unknown plays NYFF today at 3 p.m., with another showing October 12 at 9:30 p.m. Niels Schneider’s Paris photographer wakes in the body of Léa Seydoux’s character. Dennis Lim’s Film Comment interview gets at the unusual choice: Harari shot explanatory diagram scenes, then cut them because they pulled viewers away from the characters’ subjective experience. The premise is fantastic; the behavior is meant to remain realistic. Lim finds the result mesmerizing and unnerving, while noting its divisive Cannes reception. At 141 minutes, and with inconveniently early or late showtimes, this is for appetite rather than an easy date-night slot. Tickets and any filmmaker appearance are unconfirmed.

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