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City of Ember is the second film from Gil Kenan, the director behind the well-received, if not particularly widely seen, CGI 'toon Monster House. This, therefore, is his first venture into the realm of live action, but he doesn't let that constrain his visual instincts. As an exercise in screen world-building, this is one of the most impressive achievements since Blade Runner, a film Kenan has clearly been studying. Not that the look of City of Ember copies Ridley Scott's sci-fi hallmark; this is a world, at least in film terms, that is entirely unique. Ember is an underground city lit entirely by electricity, but the infrastructure is two hundred years old and falling apart. Citywide blackouts are becoming more frequent and there is the occasional strange attack from mysterious creatures living in the sewers. Ember is a decaying, nightmare metropolis, the sort that you'd never want to live in yourself but that makes an utterly compelling setting for a science fiction tale.
Strangely for a film that is so visually grim (the colour palette could be described as "rust"), this is intended as family entertainment: it is based on a children's novel and has two young protagonists. It is also produced by Walden Media, the folks behind a raft of conservative child-friendly films of late, most significantly the Narnia series. Thankfully, City of Ember manages to avoid the usual pitfalls of child leads by great casting: Saoirse Ronan has already proved her talent in Atonement, and nails an American accent here. Likewise the whole film is populated by a wonderful array of character actors, from the sardonic Bill Murray to the skittish MacKenzie Crook. Add the cast to the superbly constructed setting (which was filmed in the actual dry dock where the Titanic was built in Belfast, making it the largest soundstage in the world) and it creates an impression of a living, breathing and layered world.
It is sometimes evident that the director is more interested in the setting than the story, however, as the narrative does tend to take a back seat to the mise-en-scène. For those who find the city fascinating, this will not be much of a problem, but Ember has faced numerous critical reviews decrying its obsession with the visuals at the expense of adventure (closely paralleling the reception of Blade Runner at the time of its release). Due to its relatively grim setting, it may not be particularly appealing to children - and it has garnered very poor box office receipts as a result - but it is ultimately a hopeful and even uplifting story. Fans of post-apocalyptic science fiction should seek it out immediately, and forget that it's geared towards younger audiences.
The summary
An unusual mix of adult-friendly themes in family film clothing, City of Ember is a curiosity that absolutely works on its own terms. It looks fabulous (in a decaying sort of way) and engrosses with a good pace and a diverse cast of interesting characters.
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