Last night, Ireland’s Belfast city centre hosted the
European premiere of the motion picture City of Ember. It is also the place
where the movie was shot. It stars Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, and was
produced by Tom Hanks.
Another extremely appreciated presence is fourteen-year-old
rising star and Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe 2007 nominee Saoirse Ronan. She
appeared very enthusiastic at the people’s reaction after the premiere. "I'm
just after going round the whole room and asking people did they like it, so
they did which is brilliant," she said smiling.
The story is based on Jeanne DuPrau’s children’s book City
of Ember, that presents a world of fantasy and science fiction. The scenario
involves the end of the world (without mentioning what caused it), which forces
the survivors to move to an underground city built to last for 200 years, after
which, according to the estimations, it will be safe to come out for fresh air.
There is also a box, scheduled to open once the two centuries end, which should
explain everything to the survivors.
The people seem to be comfortable with the situation, and
obey without asking any questions the city’s succession of mayors. The one in
charge at the moment is portrayed by Bill Murray. He is a corrupt man who
maintains a secret bunker with canned goods. The city’s power source, its
generator, is on the verge of collapse after 250 years of activity and the
regular blackouts leave the city in complete darkness.
As with any such scenario, there is always someone to
question the rules and order. In this case, two recent high school grads, Doon
(Harry Treadaway) and Lina (Saoirse Ronan), search for some answers about their
present state. Lina’s relatives include
a previous mayor, who died before passing on the valuable box. She begins to
learn its secrets and also to figure out the messy instructions for making it
outside of Ember.
The extended cast is composed of Saoirse Ronan, Harry
Treadaway, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Toby Jones, Marianne
Jean-Baptiste, Mary Kay Place.
The movie is a family-focused adventure which is very likely
to appeal first of all to the younger audience as it presents a fantastic world,
with the action focused on the two teens’ quest for saving an entire population
from extinction.
Saoirse Ronan’s popularity exploded last year with her
portrayal of a young Briony Tallis, alongside Keira Knightley and James McAvoy,
in the movie Atonement.
Bill Murray, coming out of an emotionally-draining divorce,
stated that he is ready to dedicate his energy into the upcoming work projects.
"I've just come out of a sort of doldrums and I feel like I want to
go," he said. "I want to work. I want to get going. I want to do a
few things at once. I really want to connect with other people that are going
that way and `Let's go'... I want to bounce off like a pinball. Like a pinball,
I want to bounce off bumpers that are positive. I want to bounce off people
that are positive and hope that'll make me more positive and give me momentum."
