Hatrack River Forum: City of Lost Children appreciation thread

This is topic City of Lost Children appreciation thread in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :

I feel like there have been threads on this movie before, but I can't seem to find anyway, unless it's just briefly mentioned in a thread(usually as a movie recommendation, which is cool).

This movie never ceases to amaze me. I've seen it so many times over the years and every single time I watch it I marvel at how wonderful it is. It's weird, and dark(but not too dark), and fantastical, and just simply amazing. I don't know what's more impressive; the world they create, or the fact that they actually pull it off visually. It's one of the most beautifully looking films I've ever seen. There's something about the sense of other-worldniess or surreal nature of the movie that just connects with me so strongly.

For anyone who hasn't seen it, it's a french movie(one of the creators is the writer/director of Amelie). It centers around a not so bright but well meaning strong man, who is attempting to save his "little brother" who's been kidnapped by an evil genious who takes children to steal their dreams because he himself is incapable of dreaming. The strongman, One, is helped by an orphan girl, Miette, who is part of a gang of children controlled by a pair of Siamese twins called 'The Octopus'(this is an extremely brief rundown).

The story and characters are all bizarre and interesting and compelling. I swear, movies like this and Amelie make me want to learn French, just so I can watch them and fully appreciate the performances and the nuances of the film. An example would be having to read the subtitles any time The Octopus is talking between herselves or performing any tasks. And just in general really. Even so, I think the performances all still show through the language barrier. I love all the children, and I've said before that performances like that always gave me hope for the believabilty of children in an Ender's Game movie.

I feel like I'm watching an adult movie, but at the same time feel like a kid again. And that's a great feeling. It's hard to find people who have even seen this movie, let alone love it. But what I HAVE found, is that the people who like this movie, really love it. Obviously I'm one. A friend introduced me to it years ago, and didn't even really like it himself. It worked out for me though. [Smile]

Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :

I think one of the neatest things about CoLC is that you can watch it and not know French at all and you don't *have* to follow the subtitles. The performances are flawless and nuanced and moving and the direction and editing is all so fluid and purposeful that you can still follow the storyline w/o knowing exactly what the characters are saying.

I love the way it begins, as well, with a child's nightmare, sort of drawing you back to childhood and simpler times but it's got such a dark under-current. And the music is perfect. So atmospheric and chilling at times, especially the re-occuring "trigger" song

And Miette! So talented, so young! It's movies like City of Lost Children that remind me that there are EXTREMELY talented kids out there acting RIGHT NOW, and when Ender's Game DOES eventually get cast, IF the casting agents aren't all morons, the acting COULD be ridiculously amazing.

Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :

I watched it once. Good show. Lots of acting and actors and lots of colors and dramatically placed lights.

Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :

Love it.