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City of Lost Children, The
Sony Pictures Classics


9.5

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 2 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: R for disturbing and grotesque images of violence and menace

Starring Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet, Dominique Pinon, and Jean-Claude Dreyfus

One (Perlman) seeks for his twin brother, who was kidnapped by a scientist (Emilfork) who wants to steal children's dreams in an effort to stop aging.

GENRE(S):	Art/Independent \| Drama \| Fantasy \| Foreign
WRITTEN BY:	Gilles Adrien Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro (also story)
DIRECTED BY:	Marc Caro Jean-Pierre Jeunet
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 19, 1999 Theatrical: December 15, 1995
RUNNING TIME:	112 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	France / Germany/ Spain
LANGUAGE(S):	French (with English subtitles)

Original title "La Cité des Enfants Perdus." Nominated for a Golden Palm at Cannes. Won César for Best Production Design. César nominations for Cinematography, Costume Design and Music Written for a Film.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Empire Kim Newman

The City Of Lost Children is as great a film as you thought "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was when you were five years old.

100

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

This remarkable movie is really one-of-a-kind. [15 Dec 1995]

100

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

The City of Lost Children is a stunningly surreal fantasy, a fable of longing and danger, of heroic deeds and bravery, set in a brilliantly realized world of its own. It is one of the most audacious, original films of the year. [22 Dec 1995]

100

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

As a fable, The City of Lost Children may not have a resonantly significant moral, but as a film, it is without a doubt the most incredible thing that the cinema has brought us this year. [22 Dec 1995]

TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

You may end up wishing for a little less show and a lot more substance.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

For those who enjoy the offbeat, The City of Lost Children is worth taking the time and effort to find.

Austin Chronicle Joey O'Bryan

With its fine performances, gorgeous sets, incredible special effects, imaginative story line, beautiful score (by frequent David Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti), and knockout cinematography, The City of Lost Children is very much worth seeing.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

I am not one of you. But I have enough of you in me to pass along the word. Far out.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

Children, and adults with adventurous taste in movies, will find this among the most eye-popping big-screen experiences in ages.

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

A vibrant, bubbling cauldron of breathtaking f/x, gross-out humor and in-your-face imagery.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

The movie is best appreciated as a collection of whimsical toys drawn from a fantasy grab bag that encompasses everything from Grimm's fairy tales to "Star Wars."

USA Today Mike Clark

At its best, the movie is coldly clever with a few brilliant warmer moments - as when someone drops an Alka Seltzer into the tank to soothe the Brain. [14 Dec 1995]

Village Voice Georgia Brown

City of Lost Children is so extravagantly cluttered, so packed to the portholes, it's hard to sort out, or even see, what's there. Under the overload, however, it has some perfectly lovely elements. [19 Dec 1995]

San Francisco Examiner Barbara Shulgasser

I'm not really sure who would enjoy this movie.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

This delirious film is overflowing with energy and effects, but it lacks the heart and soul that would have made it important as well as impressive.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Sadly, the technical logistics seem to have impeded the dreamlike flow a movie like this requires.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Thomas S. gave it a10:
My favorite movie of them all!

Greg R. gave it a9:
Excellent, surreal film set in a dream world of bizarre characters and inventions. Definitely not a movie for everyone, but if you loved Brazil you may love this. The two aren't related, I just think the same sensibility that appreciates Brazil will probably appreciate this. The filming itself is beautiful, with rich colors and camera work. THe sets are great. The actors are all well cast for their characters.

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City of Lost Children, The Sony Pictures Classics

City of Lost Children, The
Sony Pictures Classics