Immortal (film)

Infobox Film
name = Immortal


caption =
director = Enki Bilal
producer = Charles Gassot
writer = Enki Bilal (comic books, scenario & adaptation and dialogue)
Serge Lehman (script)
starring = Linda Hardy
Thomas Kretschmann
Charlotte Rampling
music = Sigur Rós
Goran Vejvoda
cinematography = Pascal Gennesseaux
editing = Véronique Parnet
distributor =
released = 2004
runtime = 102 min.
country = flag|France
language = English
budget = €22,100,000 (estimated)
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0314063|

"Immortal" (French: "Immortel (ad vitam)") is a 2004 English language, but French-produced science fiction film, directed by artist Enki Bilal and based upon his graphic novel "La Foire aux immortels" ("The Carnival of Immortals"). The film combines live action footage with computer animation, and received mixed reviews. It is notable as being one of the first major films (along with "Able Edwards", "Casshern" and "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow") to be shot entirely on a "digital backlot", blending live actors with computer generated surroundings. "Immortel" goes one step further than those films, however, in also having live actors interacting with semi photo-realistic CGI "humans" (as opposed to films such as "" and "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy which featured fantasy creatures).

Plot outline

The film takes place in New York City in the year 2095 where genetically altered humans live side-by-side with unaltered men and women, and where Central Park has been mysteriously encased in an "intrusion zone" where people who attempt to enter are instantly killed. A strange pyramid has appeared over the city; inside, the gods of ancient Egypt are judging Horus, one of their fellow gods, who has a man's body but the head of a falcon. In the city below, Jill, a young woman with blue hair is arrested. Not completely human, she appears to be no more than a few months old, and possesses a number of secret powers, including one that enables her to procreate with gods, though she knows nothing of this. Horus is given a limited time to interact with the humans of New York and procreate. During his search for a host body, Horus encounters Nikopol, a rebel condemned to 30 years of hibernation who escapes his prison, due to a mechanical accident, one year early. Horus has been unsuccessful in attempting to take over the bodies of other humans; due to an incompatibility with the genetic alterations humans have undergone, the host bodies self-destruct while attempting to accommodate a "god". Nikopol's body is acceptable as it has been frozen in prison/storage and not undergone the genetic changes causing the rejections. Horus takes partial control of Nikopol's body and starts looking for a woman he can mate with to provide him a son, before his death sentence is carried out. When Horus/Nikopol discover Jill, they become entangled in a web of murder and intrigue.

The film, although produced in France, uses English-speaking actors, and all dialogue is in English except for several scenes in (a modern approximation of) Ancient Egyptian, and one scene performed in French. (The Region 1 DVD release translates the Egyptian scenes, but not the French dialogue.) Except for British actress Charlotte Rampling, however, most of the actors including star Linda Hardy had their original performances overdubbed by others.

Cast

* Linda Hardy as Jill Bioskop (NB: "Bioskop" is Serbian for "cinema" - the director, Enki Bilal, is of Serbian origin)
* Thomas Kretschmann as Alcide Nikopol
* Charlotte Rampling as Elma Turner
* Frédéric Pierrot as John
* Thomas M. Pollard as Horus
* Yann Collette as Froebe
* Derrick Brenner as Jonas

Also starring: Olivier Achard, Corinne Jaber, Barbara Scaff, Joe Sheridan, Jacquelyn Toman, Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals

Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals is a richly detailed point and click adventure game developed by White Birds Productions. The game immerses players in a futuristic Paris and the tale of a son’s search for his father and ultimate journey into the perilous world of political intrigue. [http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/14253772/nikopol-secrets-of-the-immortals/images/nikopol-secrets-of-the-immortals-20080917024604802.html]

External links

* [http://www.immortel-lefilm.com/immortel_flash-640.html "Immortel (Ad Vitam)" - Official (French) Site]
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* [http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/moviesimmortal.html "Heavy Metal Magazine" Fan Page]