Renaissance (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Christian Volckman

Writers:

Alexandre de La Patellière (original story) &
Mathieu Delaporte (original story) ...

Release Date:

15 March 2006 (France)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Paris 2054. Live forever or die trying.

Plot:

In 2054, Paris is a labyrinth where all movement is monitored and recorded. Casting a shadow over everything is the city's largest company, Avalon, which insinuates itself into every aspect of contemporary life to sell its primary export -- youth and beauty. In this world of stark contrasts and rigid laws the populace is kept in line and accounted for.

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Kidnapping | Missing File | Dead Dog | Dystopic Future

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Daniel Craig	...	Barthélémy Karas (voice)
Romola Garai	...	Ilona Tasuiev (voice)
Ian Holm	...	Jonas Muller (voice)
Kevork Malikyan	...	Nusrat Farfella (voice)
Catherine McCormack	...	Bislane Tasuiev (voice)
Jonathan Pryce	...	Paul Dellenbach (voice)
Robert Dauney	...	Karas (voice)
Crystal Shepherd-Cross	...	Bislane (voice)
Isabelle Van Waes	...	Ilona (voice) (as Isabelle Van Waess)
Max Hayter	...	Dellenbach (voice)
Marco Lorenzini	...	Muller (voice)
Jerome Causse	...	Amiel (voice)
Clémentine Baert	...	Nurses (voice)
Chris Bearne	...	Parisian (voice)
David Benito	...	Nayhib (voice)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent images, sexuality, nudity and language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

France | UK | Luxembourg

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Australia:M | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:12

Company:

Onyx Films

Trivia:

Renaissance took six years to complete on a budget of 15 million dollars.

Quotes:

Barthélémy Karas: I don't know anything about saints, but I have an uncanny instinct for sniffing out a son of a bitch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Renaissance: Making of promo (2006) (TV)

Great Animation!!!

I just went to a screening of the film during Expresion en Corto, a short film festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. One of the producers was there and gave a brief introduction. The Film rolled and from the first shot I was amazed: one long continuous shot of a futuristic Paris in glorious black and white.

I shouldn't go on with the details 'cause I think it is a film worth seeing. The sci-fi story might be found average for many... to me was really good. The action is great, the camera is free to fly everywhere and I mean everywhere. Things you would not be able to do or see is accomplished beautifully. The cast performance is good, in my opinion no one hits the wrong note.

Now, the thing that I found awesome is the animation. 3D grafics look 2D. A BW comic book brought to life. The details on the backgrounds gives more texture as if it had been done by hand (I'm sure it was but when the angles change you see the depth).

The producer at the screening talked about the hard work behind the film: 7 years! The director, she said, is brilliant, but perhaps he was quite unexperienced since he only had one short film in his CV. So, many people had true faith in them. They started their own studio from scratch and ever since they faced the challenge they brought upon them.

Don't miss it. I think you won't regret it... maybe Richard Linklater for the final look of this film is superior to his I think.