“Dune”, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is finally released in French cinemas this Wednesday, September 15, 2021. And if you are not a big fan of science fiction, there is a good chance that this feature film reconciles you with the genre.
Dune is one of the most anticipated films at the cinema of this re-entry 2021, with its three-star cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac and Jason Momoa. Same story as for Respect, the biopic on Aretha Franklin: the release of this feature film by Denis Villeneuve has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film’s first trailer, revealed on September 9, 2020, broke the internet. The excitement was at its peak. The reason being that Dune is an adaptation of a cult science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert and published in 1965. Known to be impossible to adapt to the big screen, this new version of Dune was therefore a risky bet. However, it is successfully won! Denis Villeneuve even manages to reconcile the less knowledgeable among us with science fiction.
To summarize, Duneis the story of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, dedicated to an extraordinary destiny. To preserve the future of his people, he will have to travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe, Arrakis, which holds a spice capable of prolonging human life. A sizeable responsibility for the young hero, whose adventure above all allows the film to explore many subjects of contemporary society. Still not convinced? We give you three infos on Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve, which will make you want to see this masterpiece of cinema.
The themes of “Dune”, a reflection of our world
When you think of science fiction, you expect an intergalactic story that came out of nowhere and that viewers won’t be able to relate to. However, if the novel Dune was published in 1965, the themes addressed are indeed current. Global warming, colonization, resistance, globalization, the place of women … Dune is a powerful film because it is relevant to all of us.
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“Dune” and the mother figure: a revolution in science fiction
Certainly in Dune, we follow the story of a young man crushed by the weight of responsibilities. But, to take a closer look, his career, the fights he will have to lead and the power at his disposal, he owes them to his mother (actress Rebecca Ferguson). Indeed, the character of Thimothée Chalamet, Paul Atreides, inherited the powers of his mother, which allows to explore a vibrant mother-son relationship and far from stereotypes, a theme rarely developed in science fiction.
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Denis Villeneuve or the director who saved “Dune”
The book Dune has often been categorized as impossible to adapt. Indeed, before Denis Villeneuve tackled it, others tried to seize Dune. In 1984, David Lynch, for example, made an adaptation that was far from receiving the welcome hoped for. Aesthetics and scriptwriting do not please and criticism is murderous. In 2003, HBO released two miniseries, Dune and The Children of Dune, adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sequel. But these productions do not leave an impression on the public. With his adaptation, Denis Villeneuve saves the cult work. It must be said that we already owe the Canadian director some essential science fiction feature films such as Blade Runner 2049, Cisario, or First contact. Works to see, to give you a taste of the Villeneuve touch before diving into Dune.
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