Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.
The City of Lost Children is one of the most visually distinctive films ever made — Jeunet and Caro's steampunk-gothic dreamworld is utterly singular, with Darius Khondji's deep-focus, desaturated amber cinematography creating an unforgettable aesthetic that has rarely been matched. The concept and world-building are wildly original, blending surrealist nightmare with fairy-tale logic in a way no other film quite replicates. The plot, while inventive in premise, can feel episodic and meandering, and the performances — while characterful — are broadly theatrical rather than deeply nuanced. The ending resolves adequately but lacks the emotional knockout its visual ambition promises.