When the old and decrepit (if not entirely demonic) scientists Krank loses his capacity for dreaming, he attempts to fight death – by stealing the dreams of children. Krank’s cadre of cloned henchmen snatch 5-year-old Denree to subject him to the horrific dream-retrieval process. The boy‘s father, One, the hulking strongman of a traveling circus, and his precocious 9-year-old friend, Miette, join forces to defeat Krank’s minions and save Denree. With Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Daniel Emilfork, Joseph Lucien.

“French directors Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro build on the demented irreverence of their debut Delicatessen with this visually audacious sci-fi fantasy about a mad (in every sense of the word) scientist who, unable to dream himself, kidnaps nearby orphans and attempts to rob them of their REM cycles. Rubber-faced clones, talking brains and a distinct green mist all add fractured fairy-tale elements, while Ron Perlman (who, according to Jeunet, fired his agent for not showing him the script) brings the pathos as the film’s in-house gentle giant.” (Rolling Stone)

“One of the most fantastic (in the literal sense) films to have emerged from Europe in the past 50 years; a masterpiece of dark invention.” (Film4)

THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN “La cité des enfants perdus” (Mark Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1995 / 112 mins / 14A / French with English subs) A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.