Electroma

I think there is a lot to be said about experimental film. I saw the film on the beach at Cannes, and for all I know, the guys could have been sitting next to me. In a search for a human existence, two robots wander somewhat endlessly until they finally find a way to end it all. The film is making a remarkable statement on today's world. It raises so many great questions, and the only problem is that sitting through two hours of wandering characters takes an audiences expectations to another level. Fellini was able to allow his characters to roam, but in that wandering so much happened, and his characters were intellectually credible. In the case of Electroma, the lack of events is very anti-film. Everything which they have done with this film leaves the audience questioning, why? We love films because of what happens in them, not because of what doesn't happen. I think that Daft Punk's attempt to find something else in this medium is quite brilliant, yet it falls short of entertainment. The visual means in which they reached certain points was incredible, but finding a way through the monotony was difficult for some. The ending was fantastic though, and I wish they push the limits even more in their next take on film.

We are all robots who sculpt our own plastic faces. We are all wandering robots with no place to fit in. Maybe I am analyzing too much, but to go to such realms with out symbolism in some higher meaning would be a waste. Perhaps that is what they were out to do. Perhaps they were just creating a (beautiful) moving painting. Maybe just messing with our heads. Regardless, they were up to something, and we will just have to see what comes next to see whether or not they're full of it.

I do give them credit for the silence. It spoke louder than any music they've ever written.

I saw Daft Punk's Electroma late last night at the Stockholm Filmfestival. This was right after seeing Gondry's "The Science of Sleep" which was brilliant! This evening turned out to be a great french evening.. Even though I have always been a big fan of Daft Punk's music, especially their live performances, I didn't really think that I would enjoy Electroma that much, but I was wrong! I was really touched by this story of two Robots (the members in daft punk) trying to become human. The theme is similar to that of their latest album "Human After All". It reminded me of Kubrick/Spielberg's "A.I", but Electroma is much more symbolical and humans play a less important role. The movie depicts the robots desire to be unique and human, and just like "Stalker" and other Tarkovsky movies the scenes are very long and for the most part there is no music just background noise, this made me really get into the movie. The whole movie is fantastic but the high rating is mostly due to the ending which is crazy good! I don't know if Daft Punk's robot-era is over after this movie, but I'm looking forward to seeing more stuff from them.

This is probably a movie that many people might find boring because it is a very silent and slow movie (heard a guy in front of me snoring..) but give it a chance... The french are not as stupid as the look!

oh and the music is not daft punk, but I heard some Brian Eno and Curtis Mayfield, overall the music choices were excellent! Merci;)

First off, let me say that this film is 74 minutes of long scenes that go on with atmospheric non-daft punk music played to them, the narrative is there and it is a simple yet effective story but their is no dialogue. In other words you will have to be patient and have to want to watch this film in order to properly experience it.

Story: 9/10 The story is a very simple tale of wanting be be something else and society not being ready to except new things. It is simply about two robots who want to be human. Their is no dialogue in the film and no "face acting" as the bots wear helmets, but the story is easy to follow.

Acting: 8/10 For what the acting is worth it is very good, as mentioned before there is no speech or human activity in the film, but that is the point. The robots feel robotic and even though there is no verbal communication emotions are put across very effectively through simple touches that actors add to their characters, for example the movement off the characters arms when they walk is slightly robotic, yet when one of the robots stares at a mirror we feel sadness through the portrayal. To understand what I mean you need to experience the film.

Visuals:10/10 The visuals in this film are fantastic for first time directors. Think Stanley Kubrick mixed with Ridley Scott sprinkled with David Lynch. The camera work is superb and the images in the film are striking. Sun drenched deserts, Children is steel helmets, robots marrying and slow motion burning to mention a few.

Audio: 9/10 The music in this film is not by Daft Punk but features music from Brian Eno and Jackson C. Frank as well as others. The music is amazing in some places (the last scenes music fits perfectly and has a haunting effect. Even though the music is not Daft Punk it is a brilliant score.

Overall: 9/10 A brilliantly slow film, excellently crafted and remenicent of Lynch and Kubrick, this is a film that requires patience, but those who are willing will be very pleased with the results.

It's hard to pin point precisely what makes this film so relevant in this time. It could be the fact that our society is so instantly nostalgic that we've forgotten what nostalgia truly means, or that we've lost hope for what an art film can and cannot be. Either way this film has captured the essence of life in somewhat of an overdrawn extended metaphor that rings in your ears like a time bomb that desperately needed to be set off. It remains as no surprise to me, having recently rediscovered Daft Punk's music, that such a collaboration of sound and image can truly transcend above all boundary, and re ignite an artist's passion for the cinema. Funny enough it should take a duo of french electronic musicians to do so. The film's beauty lies in it's simplicity of story and it's complexity of motivation. The film's brilliance lies in it's gorgeous cinematography complimented by a haunting and all too perfect score. If you are looking for a film that will stimulate you on a level that will challenge and inspire you to fully comprehend, then this is a film for you. But be warned...the story is one that could have been told in 20 minutes, told over a period of an hour and 20 minutes. If you cannot take art seriously and become easily angered or frustrated when a film doesn't spoon feed you the plot, then stay away! It has been said that this film compares to Gus Van Sant's Elephant, or possibly Vincent Gallo's Brown Bunny, mostly for the long continuous takes scattered throughout the film. The difference here is that these shot are motivated whereas in Elephant, Gus Van Sant forgot he was making a movie and fell asleep during his shoot. Some may disagree, but Gus Van Sant doesn't know his ass from his elbow and I defy him to make a film as meaningful and well executed as Electroma. The imagery is beautiful, the setting is spiritual, and the music is touching. Top notch film making from two guys who have a lot to say, but can do so without any words at all. Brilliant.

A bit pretentious, a bit obvious, overlong, even at 74 minutes (this would have been a brilliant 40 minute short), but still full of arresting images and surprisingly emotional moments.

Influenced heavily by Kubrick, Antonioni and most of the great 60s and 70s visualists, this is a wordless film about two robots who want to become human. The action is minimal. The opening drive through the desert alone takes a good 15 minutes.

But it's wonderfully shot, and the use of eclectic source music as score (Brian Eno, Curtis Mayfield, etc) is interesting, if sometimes a little too self-conscious or intrusive.

I doubt there are more layers to be found on repeated viewings, I think it is what it is: an experimental film more full of image than story or ideas. A 74 minute, interesting rock video.

But every time I'd head toward terminally bored, an image or feeling would reel me back in...