ReviewArco movie review: Annecy Cristal winner is a Peter Pan-esque sci-fi tale for our times
Featuring voices including Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo, Ugo Bienvenu’s directorial debut Arco delivers a powerful ecological message
3.5/5 stars
After winning the Cristal for a Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu’s directorial debut Arco went on to be nominated at every major awards ceremony this past season, only to be eclipsed by Netflix’s cultural juggernaut, KPop Demon Hunters.
While the latter’s success is undeniable, Arco is more than worthy of recognition, emerging as a charming and delicately handled sci-fi fable with a powerful ecological message.
In the year 2075, the Earth is constantly ravaged by storms, wildfires and other extreme weather phenomena. Nevertheless, life continues, with communities living beneath giant protective bubbles and most everyday tasks being conducted by robots.
Ten-year-old Iris (voiced by Romy Fay) lives in a sleepy suburb with her baby brother Peter and faithful nanny-bot Mikki, while her parents are absent, working in the city.
When she spots an erratic rainbow hurtling through the sky, Iris chases it into the woods, where she meets Arco (Juliano Krue Valdi), a boy who claims to have travelled back in time from a distant utopian future.