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The City of Lost Children

Original title: La cité des enfants perdus
  • 1995
  • R
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
71K
YOUR RATING
The City of Lost Children (1995)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaFantasy

A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.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
    • Marc Caro
  • Stars
    • Ron Perlman
    • Daniel Emilfork
    • Judith Vittet
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    71K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Marc Caro
      • Jean-Pierre Jeunet
    • Writers
      • Gilles Adrien
      • Jean-Pierre Jeunet
      • Marc Caro
    • Stars
      • Ron Perlman
      • Daniel Emilfork
      • Judith Vittet
    • 271User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos1

    The City of Lost Children
    Trailer 2:22
    Watch The City of Lost Children

    Photos114

    The City of Lost Children (1995)
    The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Daniel Emilfork in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman, Geneviève Brunet, Daniel Emilfork, Odile Mallet, and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman, Geneviève Brunet, Daniel Emilfork, Odile Mallet, and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Ron Perlman and Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)
    Judith Vittet in The City of Lost Children (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • One
    Daniel Emilfork
    • Krank
    Judith Vittet
    • Miette
    Dominique Pinon
    Dominique Pinon
    • Le scaphandrier…
    Jean-Claude Dreyfus
    Jean-Claude Dreyfus
    • Marcello
    Geneviève Brunet
    • La Pieuvre
    • (as Genevieve Brunet)
    Odile Mallet
    • La Pieuvre
    Mireille Mossé
    • Mademoiselle Bismuth
    Serge Merlin
    • Gabriel Marie (Cyclops Leader)
    Rufus
    Rufus
    • Peeler
    Ticky Holgado
    Ticky Holgado
    • Ex-Acrobat
    Joseph Lucien
    • Denree
    Mapi Galán
    Mapi Galán
    • Lune
    • (as Mapi Galan)
    Briac Barthélémy
    • Bottle
    • (as Briac Barthelemy)
    Pierre-Quentin Faesch
    • Pipo
    Alexis Pivot
    • Tadpole
    Léo Rubion
    • Jeannot
    • (as Leo Rubion)
    Guillaume Billod-Morel
    • Child
    • Directors
      • Marc Caro
      • Jean-Pierre Jeunet
    • Writers
      • Gilles Adrien
      • Jean-Pierre Jeunet
      • Marc Caro
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To achieve the slightly skewed color scheme of the movie, the actors were made up in white face and the color palette corrected until they were flesh-toned.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Miette: When you're born in the gutter you end up in the port.

    • Alternate versions
      There are two different audio tracks for the film - one is the original French language version and another is an English language dub.
    • Connections
      Featured in Les enfants de la cité perdue (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Who Will Take Your Dreams Away
      Music by Angelo Badalamenti

      Lyrics by Marianne Faithfull

      Performed by Marianne Faithfull

    User reviews271

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    It's so bizarre that it's beautiful; it's so illogical that it's funny; it's so dark that it's so sweet.
    It's so bizarre that it's beautiful; it's so illogical that it's funny; it's so dark that it's so sweet. That's The City of the Lost Children. The plot it's that the evil -and weird- Krank (Daniel Emilfork) kidnap children to stole their dreams due to the lack of his ability of dream. Or at least he did it, until it came One (Ron Perlman), in the search of his adoptive little brother, aided by Miette (Judith Vittet), a street smart orphan child.

    In technical aspects it's a master piece. The decoration give a baroque sensation of always being in small places, yet it's a full city populated of bizarre characters as the story itself.

    The acting it's great. I'm quiet impressed for the flawless french that Ron Perlman show us, he's just simply astounding. I cannot say less of Judith Vittet, that being a child in that time she was a tremendous actress. The two have a good chemistry as a girl mature as an adult and a grow up man with the innocence of a kid.

    I can't say that this is a movie that everyone would like, because it's not. It have a little of nonsense that might be not of the like of all the public. And all the dark atmosphere might be a little suffocating. So, take the risk and watch it, and then decide: you love it, or you hate it.
    helpful•62
    11
    • Varekai
    • Jan 17, 2005

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The City of Lost Children?Powered by Alexa
    • Why do One and Miette need the map through the minefield if they easily avoid the mines with a rowboat?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 1995 (Netherlands)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • Spain
      • Belgium
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Sony Pictures Classics (United States)
      • StudioCanal International (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • Місто загублених дітей
    • Filming locations
      • Studios 91 Arpajon, Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, Essonne, France(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Constellation
      • Lumière Pictures
      • Le Studio Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,738,611
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $34,348
      • Dec 17, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,781,750
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby SR

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