District 13

60%

An interesting response to racial tensions implicit in White dominated cultures like France. Endemic racism here has produced ghettos (banlieue) that are then - themselves - blamed for the very social tension that created them. In this sci fi movie, the government decides to withdraw all social services from these districts and build a wall around them before destroying them with clean nuclear weapons.

However, these important thematic concerns are not dramatically developed in favor of very impressive stunt work from actors taking their own risks in jumping over, through and around buildings. The free running action is impressive - and cleverly choreographed - primarily because no special effects of any kind are utilized. Nevertheless, it's the tale wagging the dog in this tale of institutional fear of dark skinned immigrants.


Article copyright © 2008 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved. Frank TALKER is also the author of Sweaty Socks: A Treatise on the Inevitability of Toe Jam in Hot Weather (East Cheam Press: Groper Books, 1997) and is University of Bullshit Professor Emeritus of Madeupology.