this wonderful film may now be illegal

Rating: 10/10 (14 April 2006)

Why are films of comics and graphic novels among the most thought-provoking made today? I saw this with my family at the very last screening in Nottingham and wasn't sure what to expect, as some of the reviews were pretty damning. The ideas sounded interesting, however, and the French website looked terrific, so I thought we'd give it a go.
It was totally gripping, both in terms of plot and action (I hadn't read the graphic novel so didn't know where it was going) and in terms of the high-level intellectual engagement it demanded. It is probably more relevant now than when it was originally due for release. There were moments when it evoked recent events and debates. It got us all thinking about democracy and the relationship between government and people - and about our responsibility to resist injustice and how this should be done. (I'm a pacifist, by the way. I'm also a woman in my fifties so not the obvious viewer for this film.) However, this film may now be illegal in Britain. One of our latest anti-terrorism laws, which came into force yesterday, makes "glorifying terrorism" a criminal offence. And that's another reason to see this film soon.