Renaissance (film)

Infobox Film
name = Renaissance


director = Christian Volckman
producer = Timothy Burrill (co-producer)
Aton Soumache (producer)
Alexis Vonarb (producer)
Bob Weinstein (executive)
Harvey Weinstein (executive)
Bonnie Radford (executive)
writer = Alexandre de La Patellière
Mathieu Delaporte
Jean-Bernard Pouy (adaptation)
Patrick Raynal (adaptation)
Joel Cohen & Alec Sokolow (writers)
Michael Phillipson (writer)
music = Nicholas Dodd
distributor = Miramax Films (USA)
Pathe (France)
Onyx Films (France)
Millimages (France)
France 2 (France)
released = 15 March 2006 (France)
28 July 2006 (UK)
22 September 2006 (USA)
runtime = 105 min
country = flagcountry|France
language = English / French
amg_id = 1:347429
imdb_id = 0386741

"Renaissance" is an animated cyberpunk/science fiction detective film by French director Christian Volckman. It was co-produced in France, United Kingdom and Luxembourg and released on 15 March 2006 in France and 28 July 2006 in the UK by Miramax Films. Renaissance features a rare visual style in which almost all images are exclusively black and white, with only occasional colour used for detail.

The film cost 14 million € to make over six years. It was funded by Disney with 3 million USD provided from Miramax.

Motion capture with 40 actors and computer-generated imagery were used to create the film's distinctive black and white animated visual style. The actors wore black suits with markers dotted along the surface which recorded movement from their limbs, faces and eyes. All acting was performed against a bluescreen in a digital backlot. Once a scene was recorded, computer software was used to build 3D animated models around the motion captured data. The bluescreen was used to create a virtual setting around the models. The black and white effect was added later using lighting.

Synopsis

In Paris in the year 2054, where every deed and gesture is checked and filmed, Ilona Tasuiev, a young scientist envied by all for her beauty and intelligence, is kidnapped. Avalon, the megalithic corporation that Ilona works for, puts pressure on Karas, a controversial policeman specialising in abductions, to find her as quickly as possible. But Karas soon feels a little presence in his wake.

He isn't alone in the quest for Ilona, and his pursuers seem poised to overtake him. Finding Ilona becomes vital: the brilliant young woman is involved in a conspiracy which is bigger than any imaginable. She holds the key to a secret that puts humanity's future in question: The Renaissance Protocol...

Production

The producers used a relatively new form of animation, motion capture, to create the film's unique look. Filmed entirely against a bluescreen, Renaissance's cast completed entire scenes wearing skin-tight black suits covered in motion sensors that were used to record movements, face direction and even where their eyes were looking.

Computer animators then placed the captured actions into pre-constructed 2D backdrops before adding the characters looks and the film's noir-styled visuals.

In a similar way to Audi with its RSQ for "I, Robot", French automaker Citroën designed a car specially for the film, imagining what a Citroën might look like in 2054. [ [http://www.citroen.com/CWW/en-US/NEWS/NEWSRELEASES/ArchivesNewsReleases/200606/07032006_CINEMA.htm France: Citroën creates a car for 2054] ]

Cast

French cast

* Patrick Floersheim — Barthélémy Karas
* Laura Blanc — Bislane Tasuiev
* Virginie Mery — Ilona Tasuiev
* Gabriel Le Doze — Paul Dellenbach
* Marc Cassot — Jonas Muller
* Rick Warden — Amiel
* Bruno Choel — Pierre Amiel
* Kevork Malikyan — Nusrat Farfella
* Marc Alfos — Nustra Farfella
* Chris Bearne — Multiple
* Lachele Carl — Nora
* Radica Jovicic —
* Breffni McKenna — Dimitri

English cast

* Daniel Craig — Barthélémy Karas
* Catherine McCormack — Bislane Tasuiev
* Romola Garai — Ilona Tasuiev
* Jonathan Pryce — Paul Dellenbach
* Jerome Causse — Amiel & Dimitri
* Ian Holm — Jonas Muller
* Pax Baldwin — Farfella
* Wayne Forrester — Administrator
* Julian Nest — Parisien
* Sean Pertwee — Montoya
* Jessica Reavis — Multiple
* Nina Sosanya — Reparez
* Leslie Woodhall — Elderly Man

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 43% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 65 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/renaissance/ |title=Renaissance Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-03-29 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 57 out of 100, based on 17 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/renaissance |title=Renaissance (2006): Reviews |accessdate=2008-03-29 |publisher=Metacritic]

Box office performance

The film grossed a total of $1,831,348 worldwide — $70,644 in the United States and $1,760,704 in other territories [cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=renaissance.htm |title=Renaissance (2006) |accessdate=2008-03-29 |publisher=Box Office Mojo] — including $1,520,587 in Algeria, France, Monaco, Morocco and Tunisia. [cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=renaissance.htm |title=Renaissance (2006) - International Box Office Results |accessdate=2008-03-29 |publisher=Box Office Mojo]

Technical data

* Duration: 105 minutes.
* Black and white (except a few colour details).
* Production: Onyx Films and Millimages, with France 2 Cinéma and Timefirm Limited as co-producers.
* 3D Executive Producer: Marc Miance
* Animation Studio: Attitude Studio

See also

* List of animated feature films
* List of recent films in black-and-white

References

External links

* [http://www.renaissance-lefilm.com/ French Official Site]
* [http://video.movies.go.com/renaissance/ US Official Site]
* [http://www.renaissancethemovie.co.uk/ UK Official Site]
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;Interviews
* [http://www.siliconera.com/2006/09/19/on-the-big-screen-christian-volkman-director-of-renaissance/ Interview with director Christian Volkman]
* [http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/volckman.php Interview with director Christian Volkman at Dark Horizons]
* [http://www.firstshowing.net/2006/07/27/interview-with-marc-miance-of-attitude-studios Interview with visual concept artist Marc Miance of Attitude Studios]