I first watched this movie around 12 years back on television. I was very young, and I could not recall the title. After many years of searching and forum postings with descriptions, I have finally rediscovered this movie through a suggestion made on the "City of Ember" forums on this site. My long search has come to an end, and I am glad.
I am sure it will be another long search before I can find a copy, but until then I will try to share what I remember of what makes this movie so good.
The story is based in a post apocalyptic world. The surface of the Earth is rendered unfit for life, and humans have lived underground in caverns for many hundreds of years. Life in the caverns is oppressive and is run by a dictatorship of sorts. The story revolves around a boy and a girl who are close to their grandmother and listen to her stories of life on the surface. She also tells them that there is a legend that when the lava river rises, (a river which gives them warmth and heat), it will be time to return to the surface. The river does rise but the people are not willing to move, believing that there is no surface to go to. Eventually it is the boy, girl, the grandmother and a drunk uncle who take the leap and leave the community, and find themselves racing the ever rising lava river to the surface. The journey to the surface is perilous through long abandoned tunnels, caverns, subways and even car parks with ancient cars in them.
All in all, I found the plot to be fascinating and absorbing. The animation and colors are less realistic but have a sort of arty feel. The sounds of the underground are beautifully rendered. I remember feeling at the time that a lot of care went into making this film.
If you can find it, this is a great movie for all the family to watch. 12 years later I still recall its impact, which is a big deal for a movie buff like me. I give it an 8 out of 10!
I am sure it will be another long search before I can find a copy, but until then I will try to share what I remember of what makes this movie so good.
The story is based in a post apocalyptic world. The surface of the Earth is rendered unfit for life, and humans have lived underground in caverns for many hundreds of years. Life in the caverns is oppressive and is run by a dictatorship of sorts. The story revolves around a boy and a girl who are close to their grandmother and listen to her stories of life on the surface. She also tells them that there is a legend that when the lava river rises, (a river which gives them warmth and heat), it will be time to return to the surface. The river does rise but the people are not willing to move, believing that there is no surface to go to. Eventually it is the boy, girl, the grandmother and a drunk uncle who take the leap and leave the community, and find themselves racing the ever rising lava river to the surface. The journey to the surface is perilous through long abandoned tunnels, caverns, subways and even car parks with ancient cars in them.
All in all, I found the plot to be fascinating and absorbing. The animation and colors are less realistic but have a sort of arty feel. The sounds of the underground are beautifully rendered. I remember feeling at the time that a lot of care went into making this film.
If you can find it, this is a great movie for all the family to watch. 12 years later I still recall its impact, which is a big deal for a movie buff like me. I give it an 8 out of 10!
