Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

Renaissance (2006)

Director: Christian Volckman

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Plunging familiar film noir archetypes into a monochrome retro-future world, French director Christian Volckman’s bleak and boldly experimental animated feature mixes the paranoid technophobia of Phillip K Dick with the hard-boiled melancholy of Raymond Chandler. Although superficially similar to Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s ‘Sin City’, it does not indulge in masturbatory, misogynist fantasies about sadistic men and willing women. Au contraire: while seemingly driven forward by the tough-guy hero’s quest, the film’s real engine is a pair of strong female characters.

Paris, 2054. The bright utopian promise of the ubiquitous Avalon corporation’s fizzing adverts contrasts starkly with the murky shadows of the city’s criminal underbelly. Down these mean streets, care-worn cop Karas seeks brilliant young genetic scientist Ilona, whose disappearance may be linked to her work on premature ageing. Avalon boss Dellenbach wants his star researcher back ASAP, as does Ilona’s fiercely protective sister Bislane, for whom Karas has the hots. But Ilona’s boss and mentor, Dr Jonas Muller, is inexplicably cagey; so Karas seeks the help of sleazy gangster Farfella.

The high-contrast images recall the expressionism of Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’, while the immersive motion capture technique draws us into a world that is psychologically, as well as visually, three-dimensional. Gratifyingly downbeat and far more coherent than the Japanese anime movies to which it also owes a debt, ‘Renaissance’ intelligently explores the ethical complexities of genetic manipulation. For this Anglicised version, the original French dialogue has been re-voiced by some classy British thesps – Daniel Craig, Romola Garai, Catherine McCormack, Ian Holm and Jonathan Pryce – all of whom lend texture and weight to their well-drawn characters.

Author: Nigel Floyd 2006-07-25 10:49:18

Time Out London Issue 1875: July 26-August 2 2006


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields


Get 2 for 1 pizza and cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Cast & crew

Director: Christian Volckman

Producer: Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb

Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Drama

Rated: 15

Duration: 105 mins

UK Release: Jul 28 2006




Top Stories

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.

London Children's Film Festival

London Children's Film Festival

Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations