Gandahar (1987)

An evil force from a 1000 years in the future begins to destroy an idyllic paradise, where the citizens are in perfect harmony with nature.

Director:

René Laloux

Writers:

René Laloux (adaptation), Jean-Pierre Andrevon (novel)

Stars:

Glenn Close, Christopher Plummer, Pierre-Marie Escourrou

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierre-Marie Escourrou	...	Sylvain (voice)
Catherine Chevallier	...	Airelle (voice)
Georges Wilson	...	Métamorphe (voice)
Anny Duperey	...	Ambisextra (voice)
Jean-Pierre Ducos	...	Blaminhor (voice)
Christine Paris	...	Porte-parole (voice)
Zaïra Benbadis	...	Voix Enregistrées (voice)
Claude Degliame	...	Voix Enregistrées (voice)
Olivier Cruveiller	...	Homme-métal (voice)
Jean-Pierre Jorris	...	Transformés (voice)
Dominique Maurin	...	Transformés (voice) (as Dominique Maurin-Collignon)
Jean-Jacques Scheffer	...	Transformés (voice)
Jean Saudray	...	Transformés (voice)
Frédéric Witta	...	Transformés (voice)
Philippe Noël	...	Transformés (voice)

Storyline

Gandahar is a utopian world of rare beauty and tranquility, the result of extensive mutation and genetic experimentation. But the perfect peace is shattered when a mysterious evil force invades this idyllic serenity, turning people into stone with petrifying rays. The Council of Women hold court and decide to send Sylvain, son of Queen Ambisextra, on a mission to destroy the enemy. Together with the beautiful and adventurous Arielle, the enemy that Sylvain eventually discovers very far from his home is the ultimate failure of Gandaharian scientific experimentation. It is a giant brain known as the Metamorphis, which has created an indestructible army of metal men to destroy Gandahar. Sylvain must battle the Metamorphis, but not until 1000 years in the future.

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Plot Keywords:

giant brain | deformed | giant egg | cryosleep | time manipulation | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The English release changed the original orchestral soundtrack to a progressive style rock, in an attempt to better fit the American audience.

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Quotes

Chief of the Deformed: Now then, do you really believe we're the enemy?
Sylvain: I do.
Chief of the Deformed: Capable of... conquering you?
Sylvain: Never!
Chief of the Deformed: Sylvain, can't you guess who we are?
Sylvain: No...
Chief of the Deformed: Don't you *know* who we are? We with these bodies, these heads, these limbs, shaped all ways, unassembled without care? C'mon, Sylvain.
Sylvain: The... the deformed?

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Alternate Versions

The Miramax Dubbed version is edited from the original French release. Most of the editing is from the first 36 minutes from the film. In the Miramax cut there is a new introduction of a quote by Issac Asimov, and an extended ending using footage from earlier in the film. The French cut ends with the head floating through the air. The French version contains roughly 6 minutes and 37 seconds more footage than the Miramax version(not including the Opening Titles and Credits). A lot of this is dialogue and more intimate scenes between Sylvain and Airelle in the nest and on the ship to Métamorphe. There is also a sequence cut of the black robots which is also shown in a montage inside Métamorphe later in the film.

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Connections

Featured in Laloux sauvage (2010)

User Reviews

One of the Best Science Fiction Films

This film was one of the first science fiction cartoons I had seen. Perhaps that is the reason for my high praise of the film. I was engrossed from the very beginning. The dialouge was masterful. What the animation lacked, the combination of the writing and my imagination more than made up for. This film has a PG rating for brief nudity, but I think that children ages 10 on will be very pleased. It treats the audience not as a child or an adult. If you are a fan of hardcore science fiction then this film is for you. If you have never seen a single sci-fi film before, then this is the perfect blend of action and thought provoking images to introduce you to the genre. I will not get into details about the story. You can read the synopsis. In short, I highly recommend this film.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Light Years

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$48,665, 31 January 1988

Gross USA:

$370,698

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$370,698

Company Credits

Production Co:

Col.Ima.Son, Films A2, Revcom Télévision

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 82 min (VHS release) (USA)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1