Is there any director who has created richer environments than those of Jean-Pierre Juenet? They are bound to conventional sets unlike the "Star Wars Prequels" and, with the exception of "Avatar" (Which even in 2020, I have yet to view.), he decimates any vision presented by James Cameron (I should state that I have not watched any post "Amelie" films by the director. I do have a Blu-ray for "Mic Macs").
Like Cameron, each of his films is an improvement over the next, but judging that it took 25 years before Cameron offered anything to compare to Juenet's grasp on mise en scene, it is clear who the superior, or at the very least underappreciated, director is. If one is looking for an example of this which is not too French, one should give "The City of Lost Children", a twisted "Peter Pan" like adventure, their undivided attention.
In a broke down world where children represent the lowest class/caste, an evil genius is desperate to obtain the ability to dream without fear. To do this, he has a cycloptic army kidnap the most defenseless children to use as their dreams as templates. If the children present him with nightmares, the are discarded.
The latest group of children includes Denree, the fearless little brother of carnival strong man Mr. One. Desperate to take back the only family he has, One obtains the assistance of Miette, a leader on juvenile thieves. As they search for Little Brother, the two develop a great bond that only true family can have. Will their bond be enough to defeat the evil that they are bound to face?
If you enjoyed "Alien Resurrection" then you will absolutely be blown away by "The City of Lost Children". Since it is beyond easy to assume that may not be the case (an unfair take), you will still enjoy "City".
The superiority as a director when compared to Cameron is apparent between "Alien", my favorite Cameron film and "Resurrection". The environment are far more stunning in Juenet's world, but his story in nothing compared to Cameron's take on xenomorphs. I am a fan of "Resurrection", but it does not do Juenet justice.
"The City of Lost Children" story is brilliant. The only flaw that may exist is that it might feel long. A common trait of French cinema is a need to cover every aspect of the tale. Since every detail of the story is extraordinarily unique, every scene seems worthwhile, especially with multiple viewings.
Accompanying the brilliant direction and story, "City's" may feature the best Ron Perlman performance along side the greatest child ensemble and the director's usual suspects. Everyone delivers superb performances that may leave an audience to ignore how intense the story is. This provides an even greater fairy tale feel. To make sure the audience does not get lost in that vibe, Angelo Badalamenti's score (best known for his work with David Lynch) keeps the reality of the situations grounded.
I do not want to be over praising of Juenet. Much of the credit needs to go to the production designer or Jean Rabasse and fellow credited director Marc Caro for creating a the world with sparingly use of computer generated effects. Perhaps the excessive praise for Juenet stems from him carrying this atmosphere to his later films without having Caro at his side. He has definitely set his style apart from any other major director. This style may have been mastered by George Lucas, but only for a decade (not the 90's or 00's), and one that Terry Gillian seems to be constantly trying to regain post "Brazil".
"The City of Lost Children" is a masterpiece that any fantasy director should look to for inspiration. "Avatar" seems to be the only film in the past decade (review written in 2010) that could come close to this film's majesty, but I doubt James Cameron's feature lacks the uniqueness in story and characters. This is a one of a kind film from a one of a kind director in Jean-Pierre Juenet.
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