CINEMA: City of Ember
For some reason, 2008 is seeing a spate of really rather intelligent, superior films for older children, with City Of Ember being the latest (and look out for Inkheart in the near future).
Based on the book by Jeanne DuPrau it centres around a city built deep underground when life above ground becomes untenable (the reason for this – nuclear holocaust or global warming – is never made clear). For centuries the citizens of this Ember City go about their business, their lives dependent on their massive generator.
Unfortunately, the map to the exit of the city, left in the keeping of the incumbent mayors, gets lost, and so when the generator starts to break down (the blackouts get longer and longer) it is up to two sparky teens to work out an escape route. Messenger Lina (Saoirse Ronan) and pipeworker Doon (Harry Treadaway) have to battle prejudice, the corrupt mayor (Bill Murray at his oiliest) and the decaying city itself in order to lead their community to safety.
Although the acting is top notch, what really makes the film is the amazing realisation of Ember City, stuffed full with rotting, decrepit Heath Robinson-esque contraptions and machines. It really has created an atmospheric world of its own and Lina and Doon’s flight from it is full of excitement and danger. Much younger viewers may find this baffling but eight-year-olds and above will definitely identify with the two leads.
Dee Pilgrim
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