La cité

A Canadian French production. It is a quiet movie. But I found it touching. It has more heart than many Hollywood production. There is little action. But it doesn't depend on action to carry the film. It all depends on acting and the atmosphere provided by the locale.

Doubtless, Kim Nguyen's « La Cité » shows how mature and international Quebec-based (French Canada) cinema can be, at least when it comes to production values.

Camera work and photography are great, slicing breathtaking images out of the desert, with right-on costumes and sets completing the visuals. Sound editing works perfectly too. Actors are serious and professional... and maybe too much for the movie's own good.

This is the main problem with Nguyen's work : none of his actors ever smile, and all of them seem to take life much too seriously. Humor and joy are ever absent of his movies, removing the sparks which make people usually identify with a movie's main characters.

Thus, while the main plot is interesting in itself, the characters' blandness makes it hard to stay focused on the storyline.

Bottom line : Kim Nguyen's next film will probably be great, if he keeps improving... and takes time to inject additional emotions in his characters.

Really enjoyed this movie which was a bit different from the typical Hollywood movie about the US versus the Natives as in DANCES WITH WOLVES. The same points made in those type of movies are also made here but with an important exception in that the good guys and the bad guys are shown to be on both sides. I especially liked the justification the Lieutentant gives for doing what he does. There is some really fine acting by all concerned and the overall "look" of the movie is stunning. I would recommend watching the movie in French with the subtitles as I cannot stand dubbed movies and fear that it would spoil my enjoyment of a fine movie.