The City of Lost Children (1995)
"La cité des enfants perdus" (original title)

A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.

Directors:

Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Writers:

Gilles Adrien, Jean-Pierre Jeunet,

Stars:

Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet

2 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ron Perlman	...	One
Daniel Emilfork	...	Krank
Judith Vittet	...	Miette
Dominique Pinon	...	le scaphandrier / les clones
Jean-Claude Dreyfus	...	Marcello
Geneviève Brunet	...	la Pieuvre
Odile Mallet	...	la Pieuvre
Mireille Mossé	...	Mademoiselle Bismuth
Serge Merlin	...	Gabriel Marie (Cyclops Leader)
Rufus	...	Peeler
Ticky Holgado	...	Ex-acrobat
Joseph Lucien	...	Denree
Mapi Galán	...	Lune
Briac Barthélémy	...	Bottle
Pierre-Quentin Faesch	...	Pipo

Storyline

Krank (Daniel Emilfork), who cannot dream, kidnaps young children to steal their dreams. One (Ron Perlman), a former whale hunter who is as strong as a horse, sets forth to search for Denree, his little brother who was kidnapped by Krank's men. Helped by young Miette (Judith Vittet), he soon arrives in La Cite des Enfants Perdus (The City of Lost Children).

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Plot Keywords:

children | dream | aging | orphan | mad scientist | 

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Taglines:

Some people follow their dreams. Others steal them.

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing and grotesque images of violence and menace

Details

Official Sites:

Pictures, Movie clips, complete movie & cast information.

Country:

France Germany Spain

Language:

French Cantonese

Release Date:

15 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The City of Lost Children

Filming Locations:

Studios 91 Arpajon, Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, Essonne, France

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,513,028 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Club d'Investissement Média, Eurimages, Studio Image

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ron Perlman doesn't speak French and was the only American on set. But he learned all of his lines, and delivered them without error. In commentaries and interviews, however, he insists his French was bad.

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Goofs

The words from The Original that Miette remembers in flashback (after she receives Uncle Irvin's dream message) differ slightly from what The Original actually said, although the point of the message is still the same.

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Quotes

Krank: Quiet! You vegetable!

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Connections

References Brazil (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Serenade Gouden Hart"

User Reviews

Quiet! You vegetable!

The City of Lost Children gets two platinum stars and also moves up to one of my top ten favorite films of all time. This is a confusing story, from beginning to end it expands your mind, reaches into your nightmares, and creates a story that is part Dark City and part of a novel called "The Golden Compass" by Phillip Pullman.

Yes, this film was everything and more. Not only visually beautiful, but the creative and symbolic meaning of the actions and words of the characters are "jaw dropping". Also, there are so many sub-stories in this film that reminded me of the style that Run Lola Run was done. This is the style that due to a connection of unrelated events something extraordinary happens. Let me give you an example from this film: There is a scene where the girl and One (Ron Pearlman-also a very biblical name) are trying to escape from the two women who want their jewels. There are events that lead from a dog finding its female companion to a boat almost hitting/splitting the women in half. Wild coincidences...imagine this times ten, and you have this film.

Keep in mind this is a French film with English subtitles, so you are not only getting the true voice of the film, but seeing the darkness of the cinematography without any American input. This really shows the purpose behind making this film, it really takes you to a new place so dark and dreamlike that you the viewer actually feel like you are in the picture itself. A movie about dreams and nightmares that takes place in a world of dreams and nightmares.

Overall, a heavily religious and symbolic film, The City of Lost Children should be put at the top of your foreign film list. Put it in your DVD player, open your mind, and be ready for a wild and intense ride!!

Grade: ***** out of *****