One of the most talked about French films of 2004 was this latter-day
zombie film which is less a conventional horror film and more a subtle
allegory on how society responds to a sudden influx of outsiders (i.e.
immigrants).
It was the first film to be directed by Robin
Campillo, who had previously distinguished himself as an editor on such
films as Laurent Cantet's Ressources humaines (1999) and L'Emploi
du temps (2001).
Whilst its subject is pure fantasy, Les
Revenants is an original and thoughtful piece of cinema which
provides a sobering reflection on the nature of grief and how a fearful
society treats minority groups and outsiders.
The film impresses with its intense brooding atmosphere and some haunting cinematography
but its impact is weakened by its lethargic pacing and the fact that virtually
every single character - normal human and zombie alike - is played in the
same dull, inexpressive manner.
The reaction shown by the bereaved relatives when a deceased loved
one suddenly returns is not what you might expect - overall, there's
a lack of emotional realism when merely emphasises the fantastic
nature of the plot.
Even with such obvious shortcomings, Les
Revenants impresses with its singular poetry and is a strangely compelling
piece. The film spawned a critically acclaimed television series, which
began broadcasting on the French channel Canal+ in 2012.
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Film Synopsis
The dead have returned. All over the world, millions of men,
women and children who died within the last ten years have risen from
their graves. They wander, dazed and silent, into public places,
as the world watches on in amazement. Then, suddenly, the dead
stop coming. The problem now is what to do with all these newly
resurrected people. How will their friends and families cope with
being reunited with someone they thought they had lost forever?
Will it be possible to re-integrate them back into society?
Mankind faces one of its biggest challenges - learning how to live with
the dead...
Cast:Géraldine Pailhas (Rachel),
Jonathan Zaccaï (Mathieu),
Frédéric Pierrot (Gardet),
Victor Garrivier (Le maire),
Catherine Samie (Martha),
Djemel Barek (Isham),
Marie Matheron (Véronique),
Saady Delas (Sylvain),
Guy Herbert (Le revenant au blouson gris),
Catherine Salvini (La psychologue),
Alain Guillo (Le directeur de Mathieu),
Dan Herzberg (Le soldat),
Hélène Alexandridis (La fille du maire),
Gérard Watkins (Le fils du maire),
Serge Biavan (Le représentant médecin DDASS),
François Clavier (Le représentant du préfet),
Jean-Luc Mimault (Le gardien de nuit),
Philippe Paimblanc (Clément),
Marisa Commandeur (Marion),
Philippe Suner (Le Représentant)
Country: France
Language: French
Support: Color
Runtime: 105 min
Aka:They Came Back
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