Electroma (2006)

Follows the history of two robots, the members of Daft Punk, on their quest to become human.

Directors:

Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo

Writers:

Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo

Stars:

Peter Hurteau, Michael Reich, Helena Stoddard

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Hurteau	...	Hero Robot #1
Michael Reich	...	Hero Robot #2
Helena Stoddard	...	Woman
Vance Hartwell	...	White Room Technician # 1
Lilo Tauvao	...	White Room Technician #2
Ken Banks	...	White Room Technician #3
Howie Adams	...	White Room Technician #4
Ritche Lago Bautista	...	Robot Groomsman (Town Cast) (as Ritchie L. Bautista)
Amir Bokhari	...	Town Cast
Alina Bolshakova	...	Town Cast (as Alina Bolsakova)
Jordan Bonson	...	Town Cast
Bradley Schneider	...	Robot Lawyer (Town Cast) (credit only)
Joshua Calhaun	...	Town Cast
Bradley Davis	...	Town Cast
Alan Deane	...	Town Cast

Storyline

Daft Punk's Electroma is an odyssey of two robots who journey across a mythic American landscape of haunting, surreal beauty on a quest to become human. Their symbolic quest, which takes them from endless two lane highways to small idyllic towns to the arid desert, finds Daft Punk once again resisting conformity and developing new ways to highlight their inventive vision. A silent feature-length film that made its international debut at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, Electroma will interest Daft Punk fans and film enthusiasts alike. With its breathtaking cinematography, innovative filming techniques, and above all its underlying search for humanity within a dystopian environment, Daft Punk have delivered a film that finds a common thread with their previous work while exploring new horizons as directors of their first feature film.

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Plot Keywords:

existentialism | robot | highway | desert | ferrari | 

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Taglines:

It's a Daft Punk vision...

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

24 March 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Daft Punk's Electroma

Filming Locations:

Ricardo, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alterian,Daft Arts,Wild Bunch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is no dialogue in this film, only background music.

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Connections

Referenced in Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

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Soundtracks

In Dark Trees
Written by Brian Eno
Courtesy of Virgin Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Daft is deft

If you're a fan of Daft Punk you aren't automatically going to like this movie. And if you're not a fan of Daft Punk you aren't automatically going to dislike it. No music by Daft Punk. No dialog or flashing helmet text. Ambient sound. And Curtis Mayfield.

Electroma plays like a festival art film, yet it's more accessible to the audience than the "Cremaster" movies and more thoughtful and varied than "Zidane". In essence, the movie comprises five set pieces. It opens with a drive through the desert, then a town. The second set involves becoming human. They then re-enter the robot world in a Frankenstein-esquire reversal, playing off of Icarus. The fourth part brings the sad realization of returning to robotic roots. Fifth, they walk through a desert, which comprises the longest part of the film.

I recommend it for the art-house/festival crowd. No dialog, an atypical plot-line, and lengthy sweeping pans will certainly turn away some fans. It is pretentious to a degree, I won't deny it, but compared to Cremaster (an unfair comparison, yes, but it's the most widely seen), Electroma doesn't require pre-emptive knowledge for the deciphering of the symbols, which tells you what you're watching. You can absorb it without extreme cerebral input.

It's slow. Like Tarkovsky or Herzog. Don't expect hyperactive techno robots.

You'll be hard-pressed to find this film, as Daft Punk does not intend to ever release this film on DVD. See it at a festival or snag a bootleg. It's worth the time.