SHE IS CONANN, directed by Bertrand Mandico, known for his unconventional and subversive films like The Wild Boys (2017) and After Blue (Dirty Paradise) (2021), follows his tradition of prominently featuring female characters in harsh environments. While it is unsurprising that Conann is a woman in this context, the film goes beyond being a mere heroic saga about a female warrior. When pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard first introduced Conan the Barbarian in his 1932 short story People of the Dark, Conan was the protagonist’s previous incarnation. Conann bears a resemblance to the character depicted by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Conan the Barbarian (1982) in terms of imagery. However, she aligns with the original concept of Conan by killing herself every ten years to be reborn anew. This film, presenting six Conanns, each differing in age and race, explores the themes of destiny and growth, posing profound questions about the essence of barbarism. After shifting its setting from the medieval era to the Bronx, New York, the film sharply criticizes modern barbarism. Numerous scenes may be challenging for some audiences, and the “buffet” scene toward the end could be quite unsettling for many, so extra caution is required. (MOON Seok)