Jack is born with his heart frozen solid on the coldest day in history. A wise midwife saves him by replacing it with a cuckoo clock. Now Jack must abide by three rules to keep his mechanical heart safe: never touch the clock's hands, master his anger, and never fall in love. He tries his best, but when he meets a girl named Acacia he falls in love, threatening the delicate balance of his artificial heart.
Score
Malzieu's original songs — the band becomes the heartbeat.
Production
Stunning stop-motion-meets-CG Victorian dreamscape.
Acting
Rochefort's final film role as whimsical Méliès.
Director
Stéphane Berla
Mathias Malzieu
Jack (voice)
Olivia Ruiz
Miss Acacia (voice)
Grand Corps Malade
Joe (voice)
Jean Rochefort
Méliès (voice)
Emily Loizeau
Madeleine #2 (voice)
Rossy de Palma
Luna (voice)
Babet
Anna (voice)
Marie Vincent
Madeleine #1 (voice)
Dani
Brigitte Helm (voice)
Arthur H.
Arthur (voice)
Alain Bashung
Jack l'éventreur (voice)
Cali
The Crying Man / The Trumpet Man (voice)
Chloé Renaud
The Young Mother (voice)
Moon Dailly
The Little Blonde Girl (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Malzieu's 2007 concept album and novel 'La Mécanique du cœur' — the film IS the band's visual album.
Jean Rochefort recorded his final lines months before his 2017 death; his Méliès is a loving tribute to cinema's first magician.
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