City of Ember
2008 · Directed by Gil Kenan
Original language: English
- adventure
- family
- fantasy
The story
For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers, in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, before the the lights go out forever.
What it’s like
Dim, sepia-warm interiors lit by sputtering bulbs and the occasional glow of a glass lamp, with the city's underground streets rendered in amber and rust against deep shadow. The camera stays fairly steady and composed, favouring wide views of cavernous machinery and crowded tenements, with the frame opening up into vast pipeworks and cluttered workshops. Sound leans on clanking metal, dripping water and a gentle orchestral score that swells during the search. The vibe is wistful adventure with a faint sense of unease, the kind of atmosphere that suits a rainy afternoon or a family film night. Pacing is brisk and puzzle-driven, with the story moving from one clue to the next and a steady build of urgency as the lights dim. Intensity is low: there is peril and some tension about the city's failing power, but no gore, graphic violence or sexual content, and little that frightens beyond mild menace. The emotional register is hopeful and curious, following two young people who grow more resourceful and loyal to each other. It is for families and younger viewers, and for anyone who enjoys a gentle dystopian puzzle with a bit of old-fashioned mystery.
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