La cité des enfants perdus [1995]

Country of Origin: France / Germany / Spain
Year of Production: 1995
Running Times: 112 mins
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: colour
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: DTS     Dolby Digital

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Club d'Investissement Média / Eurimages / Studio Image / Canal+ España / Canal+ / Centre national de la cinématographie / Cofimage 4 / Cofimage 5 / Constellation / Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L. / France 3 Cinéma / Lumière Pictures / MEDIA Programme of the European Union / Ossane / Phoenix Images / Procirep / Tele-München / Televisión Española / Victoires Productions
Copyright: Claudie Ossard Productions / Constellation Productions / Lumière / Studio Canal+ / France 3 Cinéma / Elias Querejeta / Télé München
Producers: Félicie Dutertre, María Victoria Hebrero, José Luis Lopez, Arlette Mas, Svetlana Novak, Claudie Ossard, François Rabes
Co-Producer: Elías Querejeta
Production Manager: Daniel Szuster
Assistant Production Manager: Fabien Pondevaux
Unit Managers: Primitivo Álvaro, Jean-Jacques Damiani, Edith Pommerol, Gilles Saulnier, Bruno Vignier
Assistant Manager: Guillaume Favreau
International Production Coordinator: Carlos de Muns

SCRIPT
Script: Gilles Adrien & Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro
Dialogue: Gilles Adrien
Additional Dialogue: Guillaume Laurant & Jean-Pierre Jeunet

DIRECTION
Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
1st Assistant Director: Christophe Douchand, Jean-Marc Tostivint
2nd Assistant Director: Grégoire Barachin

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Darius Khondji
Additional Photography: Michel Amathieu
Camera Operator: Marc Koninckx
Underwater Camera Operator: Roland Savoye
Steadicam Operator: Marc Koninckx
1st Assistant Camera: Adrien (realo name: Adrien Angliviel)
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Camera: Johanne Debas
2nd Assistant Camera: Philippe (real name: Philippe Le Sourd)
Assistant Camera: Christophe Beaucarne, Sophie Cadet, Isabelle Casez, Johanne Debas, Agnès Letessier, Jean-Hugues Oppel, Michel Revest
Gaffer: Pascal Pajaud
Electricians: Franck Barrault, Bernard (real name: Bernard Gemohling), Eric Monin, Luc Rondeau, Michel Sabourdy, Mikael Monod, Philippe Depardieu
Key Grips: Yorgo Voyatzis, Bruno Dubet
Grips: Jean-Michel Vincent, Robert Dona, Thierry Fonteny
2nd Unit Grip: Vincent Blasco
Set Photographer: Eric Caro
Colour Timer: Yvan Lucas
Colour: Kodak

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Herve Schneid
Editor [Spain]: Nacho Ruiz Capillas
Assistant Editors: Katia Besimensky, Beatriz Chamón
Post-Production Supervisor: Isabelle Morax
Negative Cutter: Colette Kassabian

MUSIC
Music by: Angelo Badalamenti
Orchestrator: Andrew Barrett
Orchestra Leader: Stepán Konícek
Music Mixer: Thierry Lebon
Musical Consultant: René Taquet
Music Engineer: Jiri Zobac

SONGS AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC
"Who Will Take Your Dreams Away"
Lyrics by Marianne Faithfull
Music by Angelo Badalamenti
Performed by Marianne Faithfull
Produced by Angelo Badalamenti

SOUND
Sound Supervisor: Vincent Arnardi
Sound: Pierre (real name: Pierre Excoffier), Jean-Pierre Halbwachs
Sound Mixer: Thierry Lebon
Boom Operator: Laurent Zeilig
Sound Designer: Jean-Pierre Halbwachs
Re-Recording Mixer: Vincent Arnardi
Post-Synchronization: Francoise (real name: Françoise Maulny)
Sound Editors: Gerard Hardy, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, Vincent Guillon
ADR Boom Operator: Jean-Louis Lebras
ADR Editors: Vianney Aube, Emmanuel Augeard
Sound Effects: Marc Caro, Laurent (real name: Laurent Kossayan), Bruno Mercere, Franck Lebon
Foley Artist: Jean-Pierre Lelong
Assistant Foley Artist: Mario Melchiorri

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Costume Designer: Jean-Paul Gaultier
Head Costumer: Madeline Fontaine
Make Up: Benoit Lestang, Stephanie Selva, Nathalie Tissier
Hair: Jean Nollet
Assistant Hair: Beya Gasmi

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Tattoo: Fabien Esnard-Lacombe

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Jean-Baptiste Bonetto, Jean-Christophe Spadaccini, Olivier Gleyze, Yves Domenjoud
1st Special Effects Artist: Philippe Alleton
2nd Special Effects Artist: Lionel Mathis
Animatronics: Pascal Molina
Metalworker: Philippe Boulenouar
Sculptors: Denis Gastou, Pierre-Paul Jayne

VISUAL EFFECTS
Digital Visual Effects Director: Pitof
Visual Effects Producer: Delphine Domer
Set Supervisor: Delphine Domer
Digital Artists: Sebastien Caudron, Christophe Richard, Frederic Soumagnas
Digitalization: Jérôme Arthuis
Computer Animator: Pierre Buffin
3D Modeler and Animator: Jean-Marc Castera
3D Modeler: Frederic Soumagnas
Visual Effects Miniatures: Simon Weisse
Digital Matte Artist: Jean-Marie Vives
Digital Compositing: Alain Carsoux, Thomas Duval
Tracers: Eric Frion, Xavier Miclet, Michel Risse, Tom Wiggins
Graphic Designer: Veronique Zylberfain
Motion Control: Colin Watkinson, Marc Jouveneau
Researchers: Laurent Clavier, Olivier Tubach, Philippe Rebours, Stéphane Cros, Stephane Deverly, Xavier Bec
Software Programmer: Stéphane Cros
Technical: Laure Lacroix
Telecinema: Jean-Clement Soret
Titles: Le Village, Marc Bruckert

BUF
3D Modeler and Animator: Arnon Manor

Duboi
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Antoine Simkine

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designers: Marc Caro, Jean Rabasse
Art Director: Jean Rabasse
Draughtsmen: Enes Muftic, Marc Fivel, Michele Elsair, Philippe Harlez
Set Decorators: Aline Bonetto, Georges Mougine, Denis Ozenne
Assistant Set: Thierry Michaud
Dresser: Janet Latimer
Set Propman: Manuel Mougin
Chief Constructors: Bernard Boivin, Philippe Senie
Chiefs: Jean-Michel Chartier, Philippe Auclaire
Constructors: Antonio Matterson, Arnaud Benezit, Bertrand Terreyre, Bruno Jaunay, Catherine Keller, Christian Guillebaud, Christian Rivet, Dominique Giron, Eckehard Stritzke, Emmanuel Jaffre, Eric Levavasseur, Franck Levi, François Billy, Frédéric Marchand, Gérard Simonet, Gil Demezzo, Henri Demonio, Jean-François Huet, Jean-Jacques Blanlot, Jean-Jacques Vassal, Jean-Louis Caron, Michel Courtemanche, Michel Dupont, Michel Guivet, Michel Tardif, Olivier Barbier, Patrick Milizia, Philippe Boucheron, Philippe Demante, Pierre Conejero, Xavier Dubech
Chief Carpenter: Bernard Coispel
Carpenters: Alain Chaudet, Antonio Grassi, Claude Baron, Claude Forget, Daniel Clerici, Eric Pigoy, François Pernod, Gilles Baillot, Igor Mollet, Joel Nicolas, Marcel Perez, Marie Rulens Dit Rosier, Michel Toubkis, Olivier Foucher, Philippe Naert, Philippe Pallut, Thierry Cottin, Tranquillo Cimenti, Vianney Santrot, Vincent Febrinon, Yann Sibiril
Staff Carpenter: Bernard Bordet
Chief Painters: Eric Vermeil, Marie Desforge, Philippe Meynard
Paint Foreman: Paul BastidePainters: Anne Marchand, Carole Steinberger, Chantal Bouchard, Christophe Hervé, Claude Perry, David Nouyrit, Denis Chaboissier, Dominique Antraygues, Dominique Contesso, Enrico Pittiglio, Fabrice Maux, Franck Proix, Jean-Marc Adou, Jean-Michel Rudrauf, Karine Lemonnier, Loïc Le Moigne, Marie Chapuis, Marie-Noelle Humbert, Martina Seeber, Martine Veille, Maryse Saint-Maur, Michel Masson, Nicole Veilhan, Patrick Loret, Philippe Legrand, Philippe Moutard, Pierre-Marie Ziegler, Roger Mattei, Sylvie Mitault
On-Set Painter: Franck Miniconi
Metal Workers: Christian Marrot, Franck Scala, Gerard Kadyszewski, Gilbert Kadyszewski, Herve Gavillet, Jean Labille, Jean-Yves Thoreau, Stephane Vuigner, Dominique Filliatreau, Jean-Claude Guilleman
Milling Cutter: Martial Antoine
Milling: Jean-Pierre Delettre
Model Makers: Pierre Le Garrec, Valerie Berthoux, Yann Haugomat
Sculptor: Brigitte Baudet, Brigitte Cardinal, Catherine Lafferriere-Weihtzem, Corinne Forget, François Bernard, François Roux, Jean-Louis Lebreton, Marie Baduel Legarrec, Veronique Malaval, Vincent Gazier
Artistic Director: Marc Caro
Art: Pierre Duboisberranger
1st Assistant Art: Bertrand Seitz, Franck Benezech
2nd Assistant Art: Pascal Vedel
Art Department: Alain Briend, Bernard Brunet, Catherine Tanga, Claire Briet, Claude Poulain, Eric Blanchet, Fabien Dufour, Juliette Cheneau, Yannick Luce
Art Department Driver: Yvon Fremy
Art Department Trainee: Marc Brava
Cyclop: Mr. Fournier-Dencott
Ripper: Jacques Pellissier
Staffer: Richard Bruyere

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisors: Aruna Villiers, Anne Wermelinger
Continuity: Florence Magna-Schneid
Financial Director: Gilles Caussade
Production Secretary: Aude Boedec
Post-Production Secretary: Laure Auger-Robert
Set Interpreter: Juliette Caron
Underwater: Alexandre Cauderlier
Trainee: Noel Chainbaux
Animal Trainer: Michel Flaesch
Assistant Animal Trainer: Laurent Flaesch
Catering: Cantine De, Sylvain Surble
Legal: Christian Valsamidis

LOCATIONS
Locations: Studios 91 Arpajon, St Germain Les Arpajon, France
Location Managers: Marie-Laure Villa, Sylvie Zajdner

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks: Simona Benzakein; Michel Doursoux; Véronique Melery

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Patrick Cauderlier
Stunts: Eric Baronne, Jean-Claude Braquet, Pascaline Girardot, Christian (real name: Christian Henning), Michel Julienne, Marcel Labbaye, Frederick Renard, Catherine Robert, Christophe Roblin, Philippe Vittoriani
Assistant Stunts: Rémi Canaple

CASTING
Casting by: Pierre-Jacques Bénichou
Casting Assistants: Gabriel Beroff, Nathaniele Esther

CAST
Ron Perlman [One]
Daniel Emilfork [Krank]
Judith Vittet [Miette]
Dominique Pinon [le scaphandrier / les clones]
Jean-Claude Dreyfus [Marcello]
Geneviève Brunet [la Pieuvre]
Odile Mallet [la Pieuvre]
Mireille Mossé [Mademoiselle Bismuth]
Serge Merlin [Gabriel Marie [Cyclops Leader]
Rufus [Peeler]
Ticky Holgado [Ex-acrobat]
Joseph Lucien [Denree]
Mapi Galán [Lune]
Barthelemy Briac [Bottle]
Pierre-Quentin Faesch [Pipo]
Alexis Pivot [Tadpole]
Léo Rubion [Jeannot]
Guillaume Billod-Morel [Child]
François Hadji-Lazaro [Killer]
Dominique Bettenfeld [Bogdan]
Lotfi Yahya Jedidi [Melchior [as Lotfi]
Thierry Gibault [Brutus]
Marc Caro [Brother Ange-Joseph]
Jean-Louis Trintignant [L'oncle Irvin [voice]
Ham-Chau Luong [Tattoo Artist]
Bezak [Helmsman]
Thomas Hong-Maï [Tattoo Artist's Wife]
Frankie Pain [Barmaid [as Frankie]
René Pivot [Glazier]
Daniel Adric [Cyclops]
Christophe Salengro [Soldier]
René Marquant [Captain]
Enrique Villanueva [Spainard]
Dominique Chevalier [Tied-up Guard [as Dominique]
Cris Huerta [Father [as Chris Huerta]
Lorella Cravotta [Woman at her]
Michel Smolianoff [Awake Tramp]
Eric Houzelot [Soldier]
Lili Cognard [Winner]
Angélique Philibert [Stripper]
Marie Piémontèse [Stripper]
Antoinette Dias [Stripper]
Zak Russomanno [Stripper]
Djamila Bouda [Stripper]
Philippe Beautier [Double Clones]
Lauren Geoffroy [Stripper]
Marc Amyot [Double Clones #2]
Jean-Philippe Labadie [Double Clones]
Cyril Aubin [Double Clones #4]
Raphaèle Bouchard [Miette, age]
Bruno Journée [Double Clones #5]
Jérémie Freund [Krank, age 12]
Babeth Etienne [Miette, age 37]
Joris Geneste [Krank, age 36]
Rachel Boulenger [Miette, age 43]
Michel Motu [Krank, age 45]
Nane Germon [Miette, age 82]
Julie Bernard [Child]
Valentin Simonet [Child]
Eglantine Blanckaert [Schoolchild]
Gaëtan Bouyala [Schoolchild]
Mickael Bussinger [Schoolchild]
Jonathan Gatinois [Schoolchild]
Joshka Kaufmann [Schoolchild]
Morgan Mariac [Schoolchild]
Caroline Marsily [Schoolchild]
Geoffroy Morange [Schoolchild]
Sébastien Thaissart [Schoolchild]
Charlotte Bienfait [Baby]
Camille Dufeu [Baby]
Robinson Fouille [Baby]
Alysia Hoffeurt [Baby]
Sandy Kontargyris [Baby]
Andrew Laupen [Baby]
Théo Madueno [Baby]
Arthur Mazet [Baby]
Fackry M'Saidie [Baby]
Gabriel Pierre [Baby]
Bérangère Pivot [Baby]
Charlotte Ribaud-Chevrey [Baby]
Laura Robert [Baby]
Caroline Rochand [Baby]
Carolane Yvan [Baby]
Margot Tostivint [Baby]
Buster Verbraeken [Krank, age 4]

Crackpot scientist Krank is incapable of dreaming so abducts young children and tries to steal their dreams. Krank kidnaps Denree, the younger brother of former circus strongman One who teams up with a young street urchin to get him back from the deranged Krank and his armies of clones and cyborg killers.

An almost indescribably beautiful film and easily the finest fantasy to come out of France in the 1990s. Crammed to the brim with grotesque characters, stunning production designs and off-the-wall plot twists, La cité des enfants perdus is a more than worthy successor to the directors' manic Delicatessen and, in its haunting, surrealist imagery, it rivals anything done by Terry Gilliam and David Lynch. A work of genius.

Brazil
Video Distributors: Lumière Home Vídeo

France
Theatrical Distributors: UGC
Laserdisc Distributor: PFC Vidéo

Germany
Theatrical Distributors: Concorde-Castle Rock / Turner

Netherlands
DVD Distributors: Universal Pictures Benelux

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: Manga Films

Switzerland
Theatrical Distributors: Monopole-Pathé

UK
Video Distributor: Entertainment
Laserdisc Distributor: Pioneer [PLFEB 36581]

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Sony Pictures Classics
Laserdisc Distributor: Columbia/Tristar [40016]

Australia
Rating: M

Canada
Rating: PA [Manitoba]; PG [British Columbia]; AA [Ontario]; 14 [Nova Scotia]

Finland
Rating: K-16

Germany
Rating: 12

Iceland
Rating: 16

Portugal
Rating: M/12

Singapore
Rating: NC-16

Spain
Rating: 13

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R [for disturbing and grotesque images of violence and menace]

1995
Cannes Film Festival
Golden Palm [Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet] - nominated

Stockholm Film Festival
Bronze Horse - nominated

1996
César Awards, France
Meilleurs décors [Jean Rabasse] - winner
Meilleure photographiem [Darius Khondji] - nominated
Meilleurs costumes [Jean-Paul Gaultier] - nominated
Meilleure musique [Angelo Badalamenti] - nominated

Independent Spirit Awards
Best Foreign Film [Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet] - nominated

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
Golden Reel Award: Best Sound Editing, Foreign Feature [Vincent Arnardi [re-recording mixer], Pierre Escoffier [production sound], Laurent Kossayan [special sound effects]] - winner

1995
May
Day Unknown: France - world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival
17: France - theatrical release
17: Germany - theatrical release

September
1: UK - theatrical release

December
15: Sweden - theatrical release
15: USA - theatrical release

1996
April
6: Japan - theatrical release

May
31: Poland - theatrical release

July
12: Portugal - theatrical release
23: USA - laserdisc release [Columbia/Tristar [40016]]

October
4: Denmark - theatrical release
25: Finland - theatrical release
25: Norway - theatrical release

1996
December
20: Estonia - theatrical release

1997
December
25: Hong Kong - theatrical release

1998
February
Day Unknown: UK - laserdisc release [Pioneer [PLFEB 36581]]

Where happily ever after is just a dream.

Some people follow their dreams. Others steal them.

A Cidade das Crianças Perdidas - Portuguese title
La città dei bambini perduti - Italian title
La città perduta - Italian video title
The City of Lost Children - US title
La ciudad de los niños perdidos - Spanish title
La ciutat dels nens perduts - Catalan Spanish television title
Elveszett gyermekek városa - Hungarian title
De förlorade barnens stad - Swedish title
De fortabte børns by - Danish title
Kadonneiden lasten kaupunki - Finnish title
Kayip çocuklar sehri - Turkish title
Ladrão de Sonhos - Brazilian title
Mesto izgubljenih otrok - Slovenian title
Miasto zaginionych dzieci - Polish title
Die Stadt der verlorenen Kinder - German title

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Celluloid Dreams [2002]

SEE ALSO
Alien: Resurrection [1997]
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [1954]
City of Lost Children [1997b]
A Clockwork Orange [1971]
Dark City [1998]
Doctor Who [1963]
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain [2001]
Freaks [1932]
Heavy Metal [1981]
The Matrix [1999]
The Night of the Hunter [1955]
Orphée [1949]
Rudora no hihou [1996]
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [1977]

MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS

Empire October 1995 p.34
review

Expresso, Cartaz 13 July 1996
review [by Antonio Cabrita]

FilmMagasinet October 1996 p.61
review [by Bianca Boege]

Film Review October 1995 p.63
review [by Nigel Robinson]

New Musical Express 2 September 1995 p.25
review [by Ben Willmott]

Première [France] June 1995 p.43
review [by Jean-Yves Katelan]

Premiere [UK] September 1995 p.13
review

Samhain 55 p.36
review

Shivers 27 p.14
note

Shivers 51 p.47
review

Studio Special Cannes 1995 p.10
review [by Juliette Michaud]

Studio June 1995 p.10
review [by Thierry Valletoux]

Svenska Dagbladet 15 December 1995
review [Ett sällan skådat bildfyrverkeri by Jeanette Gentele]

Télérama no.2366 [17 May 1995] p.72
review [by Pierre Murat]

amnesia, brains, children, circuses, clones, cloning, cyborgs, dreams, freaks, kidnapping, mad scientists, mind reading, oceans, parallel dimensions, siamese twins, steampunk, suicide, surrealism, twins

Last Updated: 26 May, 2007