OVERLAY REPORT

In Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro’s 1995 surrealist masterpiece ***The City of Lost Children*** (*La Cité des enfants perdus*), the story features a dual-protagonist structure, but the primary main character is **One**, played by **Ron Perlman**. He is accompanied throughout the film by his companion and co-protagonist, **Miette** (played by Judith Vittet). Because the film is highly visual and One is a character of few words (Ron Perlman famously learned his lines phonetically in French), their dialogue is sparse but deeply impactful. ### The Main Character: One One is a circus strongman with the heart of a child. His motivation is singular: he is searching for his kidnapped "little brother," Denree, who was stolen by the cult of the Cyclops to be delivered to the scientist Krank. #### Memorable Lines and Dialogue Because One is portrayed as "dim-witted" but pure of heart, his most memorable lines center on his devotion to Denree and his admission of his own limitations. * **"Denree!"** While it is a name rather than a sentence, this is One’s most frequent and iconic vocalization. He bellows it throughout the film—in the fog-choked streets and through the corridors of Krank's laboratory. It serves as his "North Star," defining his character's entire existence through his love for his brother. * **"I’m not very smart, but I’m strong."** (Translated from: *"Je ne suis pas très malin, mais je suis fort."*) One says this to Miette early in their partnership. It establishes the dynamic of their relationship: she provides the intellect and cynicism of a street urchin, while he provides the physical power and emotional sincerity. * **"He is my brother... he is all I have."** One expresses this sentiment when Miette questions why he is risking his life against the "Pieuvre" (the Siamese twin circus mistresses) and the Cyclops. It highlights the film's theme of "found family." --- ### The Supporting Protagonist: Miette Miette is a young girl who leads a gang of orphaned thieves. She is the "adult" in the relationship, despite being a child. * **"You're a giant, but you're just a big baby."** This line captures the irony of the film’s character dynamics. In this world, the children (Miette) are hardened and weary, while the adults (One) often retain a child-like innocence. * **"If I'm not here to look after you, you'll get yourself killed."** Miette says this to One during their journey toward Krank's rig. It cements her role as his protector, despite the massive disparity in their sizes. --- ### The Antagonist: Krank While not the hero, the character **Krank** (Daniel Emilfork) has the most philosophical and "memorable" lines in the film, as he provides the exposition for the plot. * **"I cannot dream... because I have no soul."** Krank’s primary motivation is his inability to dream, which causes him to age prematurely. He kidnaps children to steal their dreams, but because the children are terrified of him, he only receives their nightmares. * **"A tear... I would give anything for a single tear."** Krank is obsessed with the biological manifestations of human emotion, particularly those he cannot experience himself. ### Summary of Context The most memorable dialogue in the film often highlights the **contrast between One’s physical strength and his emotional vulnerability.** The film’s script relies heavily on the "beauty and the beast" chemistry between One and Miette as they navigate a dark, mechanical harbor town to save the stolen children.