Les revenants (2004)

Director:

Robin Campillo

Writers:

Robin Campillo (writer)
Brigitte Tijou (writer)

Release Date:

27 October 2004 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Why have the dead suddenly returned...

Plot:

The lives of the residents of a small French town are changed when thousands of the recently dead inexplicably come back to life and try to integrate themselves into society that has changed for them. |

Plot Keywords:

Dead | Death | Husband Wife Reunion | Zombie | Little Boy

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Géraldine Pailhas	...	Rachel
Jonathan Zaccaï	...	Mathieu
Frédéric Pierrot	...	Gardet
Victor Garrivier	...	Le maire
Catherine Samie	...	Martha
Djemel Barek	...	Isham
Marie Matheron	...	Véronique
Saady Delas	...	Sylvain
Guy Herbert	...	Le revenant au blouson gris
Catherine Salvini	...	La psychologue
Alain Guillo	...	Le directeur de Mathieu
Dan Herzberg	...	Le soldat
Hélène Alexandridis	...	La fille du maire
Gérard Watkins	...	Le fils du maire
Serge Biavan	...	Le représentant médecin DDASS

Also Known As:

They Came Back (International: English title)

Runtime:

102 min | France:105 min | Argentina:105 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Haut et Court

Philosophic "zombie"-movie?

I have seen people say this movie is existentialistic and socio-politic, but in my opinion Les Revenants is mostly criticism to existentialism. Basic idea, as I see it, is "What's dead should stay dead, and shouldn't be thought as alive." The movie shows the problem with the absolute freedom that is often thought as the guideline of existentialism. It shows freedom and the society with clear norms collide. I also saw loads more of thoughts that I just couldn't grasp because I haven't read enough. The socio-politic part, "how can we reintegrate thousands of ex-dead people back to normal life", is just a small part of the movie.

Why is Les Revenants so good? The symbols are clear, the idea shows itself to all who understand the concept, the critic is justified (it identifies the dilemma) and all of it is done from 3 different viewpoints.

If I'd have to suggest this movie to someone, I probably wouldn't. It's really not good as a movie, but better watched as a fictional document.