2025 · Ugo Bienvenu · 89 min

Arco

“French animation triumphs again in this tale full of heart and imagination”

The opening was already intriguing, and once we landed in 2075 I was taken by the imaginative world unfolding through the film. Something in the surreal but still familiar setting made me feel oddly nostalgic and cosy. On some level my intuition is that feeling was caused by the combination reminding me of dreams I've had or the sense of dreaming - where something is deeply personal, familiar and yet also strange or otherworldy. I found Iris particularly strong as a protagonist, alongside Arco whom I thought may be annoying initially yet revealed himself to be a genuinely sensitive, decent young boy. Mikki as Iris' robotic companion and de facto parent or caretaker pulled at my heart strings. And the three brothers voice by Ferrel, Samberg and Flea had me laugh out loud. The third act surprised me with its twists, turns and messages - the story from that point had more left to say and more legs than I expected as it continued into a satisfying conclusion. This is an excellent movie, one I would have loved when I was younger and resonates with me now. French animation triumphs again.

• Drama
• Comedy
• Cult