The City of Lost Children . Tucson Weekly . 02-29-96

The City of Lost Children

DIRECTED BY: Jean-Pierre and Marc Caro Jeunet

REVIEWED: 02-29-96

Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, the dynamic duo who dreamed up the award-winning Delicatessen four years ago, delve into a retro-future fantasy world that is such a visual and narrative feast, you won't even mind the subtitles. Their cinematic Cirque de Soliel is a surreal journey through a dark, dank harbor town populated by genetic mutants, a cult of Cyclops kidnappers and a scrappy band of street-wise orphans. It harkens back to traditional (un-Disneyfied) fairy tales: untamed flights of fancy that are equal parts funny and fearsome. Miette (a haunting nine-year-old femme fatale) and One (a simple-minded circus giant) band together to save One's adopted brother from the clutches of Krank, a horrible scientist who's slowly dying because he lacks one vital function: the ability to dream. From his laboratory on a remote, mist-shrouded rig, Krank invades the dreams of his stolen children in a desperate attempt to make them his own...until One and Miette penetrate Krank's sinister fortress and challenge him on a level playing field--within the world of a little boy's dream.

--Stacey Richter

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.