Arco
10-year-old Arco lives in a far future. During his first flight in his rainbow suit, he loses control and falls into the past. Iris, a girl his age from 2075, comes to his rescue and tries by all means to help send him back to his era.
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Drama Serie Review
Ugo Bienvenu has long been a visionary in the realm of adult-oriented graphic novels and shorts, but with *Arco*, he successfully pivots into a more universal, family-friendly space without sacrificing his signature aesthetic rigor. Set against a backdrop of temporal displacement, the film feels like a breath of fresh air in an animation landscape often dominated by hyper-active CGI. By utilizing a vibrant, retro-futuristic palette—most notably in Arco’s titular rainbow suit—Bienvenu crafts a visual language that feels both nostalgic and distinctly forward-looking.
The narrative’s primary strength lies in its intimacy. While the stakes involve a 10-year-old lost across centuries, the story remains anchored in the tactile friendship between Arco and Iris. There is a profound, quiet beauty in how Iris, a child of 2075, views Arco’s "far future" technology with a sense of wonder that mirrors our own. The voice cast, featuring heavyweights like Swann Arlaud and Louis Garrel, lends a grounded, soulful quality to the dialogue, ensuring that the sci-fi concepts never overshadow the human stakes. The film’s 89-minute runtime is lean, allowing the sense of adventure to propel the viewer forward without the bloat of unnecessary world-building.
However, this brevity is also where *Arco* stumbles slightly. The mechanics of the time-slip and the specific cultural differences between the eras are left somewhat vague, which might leave more analytical viewers craving deeper lore. Additionally, while the minimalist direction is artistically striking, some of the supporting characters feel more like sketches than fully realized individuals, serving the plot’s momentum rather than their own internal journeys.
Ultimately, *Arco* is a triumph of artistic merit over spectacle. It explores themes of connection and the cyclical nature of time with a gentle hand and a brilliant eye for color. While it may lack the complex narrative layering of a high-concept space opera, its emotional sincerity and stunning visual composition make it a must-watch. It is a rare family film that respects the intelligence of its younger audience while offering plenty of philosophical subtext for the adults.
