Dante 01 (2008)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Marc Caro

Writers:

Marc Caro (screenplay)
Pierre Bordage (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 January 2008 (France)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Deep space, at the edge of the galaxy. The future. A new prisoner arrives on top security prison ship and psychiatric research unit Dante 01...

Plot Keywords:

Space | Prison | Criminal Psychiatric Institute | Space Station | Christian Film

Cast

Lambert Wilson	...	Saint-Georges
Linh Dan Pham	...	Elisa
Simona Maicanescu	...	Perséphone
Dominique Pinon	...	César
Bruno Lochet	...	Bouddha
François Levantal	...	Lazare
Gérald Laroche	...	Charon
François Hadji-Lazaro	...	Moloch
Lotfi Yahya Jedidi	...	Raspoutine (as Lotfi Yahya-Jedidi)
Yann Collette	...	Attila
Dominique Bettenfeld	...	BR
Antonin Maurel	...	CR

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, some disturbing images, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

France:Unrated (with warning) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | USA:R

Company:

Eskwad

Trivia:

Director Marc Caro had a different ending in mind but couldn't shoot it because the original budget of 8 million euros was cut back to 4 millions by the producers.

Experimental Movie

I'm usually a very 'nice' reviewer. The kind that usually overlooks some faults in movies because the 'experience' is truly what matters to him. So, 'tis with a heavy heart that I say; I have to agree with the majority of reviewers here.

This movie feels like it was obviously cut short because of money or deadline issues, so it is painfully frustrating in that sense. The story is interesting, and the visuals and sound are astounding, although very influenced by older sci-fi movies (Alien 3 and Resurrection come to mind), but the religious overtones are rendered abstract (at best) by end of the movie.

This is a beautifully well-made movie with awesome visuals, but it has to be taken as an experiment, just like inside the story. Or as an experience, if you prefer.

That's because essentially, the last part of the movie was completely lame. And by lame I mean obviously rushed, incomplete and unfinished. Similar to "The Objective" in that respect, but even worse.

So allow me to present this movie in another way - as an experimental movie. As an audiovisual spectacle for the senses. And as such, Dante 01 is a marvel.

Having said that, the average casual moviegoer will probably not appreciate it in that sense and thus ask for a refund.