Immortel (ad vitam) (2004)

Director:

Enki Bilal

Writers:

Enki Bilal (comic books "La Foire aux immortels" and "La Femme piège")
Enki Bilal (scenario & adaptation and dialogue)

Release Date:

24 March 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

New York 2095. In a strange pyramid floating in the sky, the gods of ancient Egypt are judging Horus. In the city, a young women with blue hair and tears is arrested, but she has a secret power, even to herself...

Plot Keywords:

Hammerhead | Mind Reading | White Skin | Skeleton | Possession

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Linda Hardy	...	Jill Bioskop
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Alcide Nikopol
Charlotte Rampling	...	Elma Turner
Frédéric Pierrot	...	John
Thomas M. Pollard	...	Horus
Yann Collette	...	Froebe
Derrick Brenner	...	Jonas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Olivier Achard	...	Checker
Paul Bandey	...	Dayaks (voice)
Paul Barrett	...	Pilot Helico (voice)
Geoffrey Carey	...	Froebe, Checkers (voice) (as Geoffrey Carrey)
Leslie Clack	...	Co-Pilot, Additional Voices (voice) (as Les Clack)
Lemmy Constantine	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Javon Constantin	...	Eugenics Little Boy
Gary Cowan	...	Tycho Barman
Robert Dauney	...	Security Guard (voice) (as Robert Dawney)
Jerry Di Giacomo	...	Jack Turner
Dominic Gould	...	John (voice)
Geoffrey Greenhill	...	Policeman (voice)
Corinne Jaber	...	Lily Liang
Helen Later	...	Conti, Speaker Meteo (voice) (as Helene Later)
Augustin Legrand	...	Salesman
Dominique Mahut	...	Hotel Receptionist
Irene Palko	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Thierry René	...	Sam (as Thierry Ashanti)
Barbara Scaff	...	Jill (voice) (as Barbara Weber-Scaff)
Coralie Seyrig	...	Bastet (voice)
Joe Sheridan	...	Allgood
Owen Steketee	...	Horus's Baby
Jacquelyn Toman	...	Patiente Elma
Goran Vejvoda	...	Anubis (voice)
Allan Wenger	...	Hotel Receptionist (voice)

Also Known As:

Immortal (Ad Vitam) (International: English title) (Italy)
Femme piège, La (France) (working title)
Immortel (France) (short title)
Trilogy (France) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality/nudity, language and some violence.

Runtime:

France:102 min

Country:

France | Italy | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | France:U | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R

Company:

Téléma

Trivia:

Nikopol's first name in the comics is Alcide.

Quotes:

Nikopol: [Nikopol falls into the bed, lying there, and recites] Ceaselessly by my side moves the Demon. He swims around me like impalpable air. I swallow and feel it burn my lungs. And fill them with eternal desire and guilt.

Movie Connections:

References The Matrix (1999)

Soundtrack:

Etang Donne

Mixed bag...

The story revolves around New York City in the late 21st Century (2090 or so). There is a contrast between the live action, the really stunning CG and the CG that looks like some PC game I played 5 years ago. I think the movie would have been better if it was all done in CG (ie. Final Fantasy). Nonetheless, it looks similar to other European sci-fi movies (think of the Fifth Element). The first 1/2 of the movie, I was wondering what was going on. There seemed to be events that were happening, with little explanation as to why or what. There was very little background provided for the world we are dropped in (I think reading the trilogy of the comic might help in watching this movie). We are given hints that people are now more cyborg than human, corruption has increased, there seems to be non-human class discrimination, and there is a pyramid hanging over the city. While this movie has an interesting storyline and is obviously deeper than movies like the Fifth Element, the lack of character/background development ultimately hurt this movie. I was left to interpret the majority of the movie based on my own background rather than what was happening before me. I am a little disappointed. I was so interested in seeing this movie after I saw the trailer. I am going to read the Nikopol trilogy to see if my understanding and appreciation of this movie improves.