«Dune»: Will Villeneuve rehabilitate Lynch's failure?

Cinema Wednesdays - Fanny Agostino

Is the curse about to end? The umpteenth attempt at a film adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, Dune, might just be the one. Adored by science fiction fans, this ecological and political fable written in 1965 could have found its chosen one in Denis Villeneuve. But can we really be sure of this after the first part, released in cinemas this Wednesday, September 15? 

In a world where space shuttles have become as common as in George Lucas' universe, the Emperor runs his interstellar kingdom under a feudal system. Immense territories are given as fiefdoms to Lords who settle there with their families, of noble blood of course. The House of Altreides, led by Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), has seen its daily life turned upside down. By decree, the Emperor orders him to leave the planet Caladan, which the Atreides have occupied for generations, and move to Arrakis. With its desert climate, this oriental-looking planet is inhabited by a blue-eyed indigenous people called Fremen.

Above all, the area is highly coveted for its spice resources. A hard drug which is also an indispensable fuel for galactic travel. On this planet nicknamed «Dune», living conditions are very particular, as it's impossible to walk in this scorching desert without a protective suit. For almost a century, these red-gold lands have been plundered and exploited by the dreadful Harkonnen. At their head is Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgåard), cousin of the Atreides family. This ruthless half-human, half-demonic creature thrives on blood and the monstrous profits generated by the Spice harvest, which he is certainly not about to give up.

As departure approaches, Duke Leto's son and heir, Paul Atréides (Timothée Chalamet), is roused from his sleep by bloody dreams. A power he inherits from his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), who has disobeyed the community to which she belongs. The Bene Gesserit, a kind of witchcraft institution, has the ability to influence politics, superstitions and people's beliefs. Lady Jessica absolutely had to have female offspring. What risks does Paul run? Are his dreams premonitions of his family's destiny, or possible paths for humanity?  

A first didactic part

As can be seen from the complexity of the screenplay, putting the story into fiction is not the most obvious part of the film. Among the many film adaptations of the novel Dune David Lynch's 1984 film was a commercial and critical failure. Among other things, it was criticized for the illegibility of the narrative stakes for viewers who had never opened the novel. The codes of this world, in particular the political stakes surrounding families and the feudal system, are certainly no strangers to this difficulty. In comparison, we're thinking of the contemporary series that also uses a political system close to medieval times, namely Game of Thrones. The serial format, offering a good ten hours per season, allows us to dilute the geopolitical aspect, which is not possible with the unity formed by the fiction film.

In this two-and-a-half-hour (!) first part, the screenwriters have taken pains not to fail in this exercise in comprehension. The first fifteen minutes of Dune will require some effort on the part of the viewer. Then, they can let themselves be guided through the film's grandiose settings and breathtaking images without asking too many questions about each character's motivations. Villeneuve and his teams have chosen the right simplifications to avoid overwriting or eliding the world created by Frank Herbert, without becoming too heavy-handed. This balancing act is, however, constraining; the story struggles to move forward and take certain liberties. From this point of view, we shouldn't expect an innovative film... And the timid touches of humor won't change that.

Chalamet, a glory foretold

When Herbert published his story in 1965, just as the Americans were invading Vietnam, science fiction was still considered a sub-genre. Two years later, Philip K. Dick published his novel Do androids dream of electric sheep?, more popular for its film adaptation Blade Runner, Denis Villeneuve will direct the sequel in 2017. As with the latter, the music for Dune is entrusted to Hollywood soundtrack star Hans Zimmer, a rather successful choice.

Timothée Chalamet's role as a young heir to the heiress family has been somewhat sheltered, both in fiction and by his director. He doesn't stray too far from his usual style, playing a young man in search of an identity (as in his roles in My Beautiful Boy or Call Me by Your Name). However, one could criticize her omnipresence in almost every sequence of the film and her barely concealed desire to become the new muse of French cinema. Two secondary roles stand out: Charlotte Rampling as a witch and Javier Bardem as a desert adventurer.

Looking forward to the second part of Dune, So it's hard to pass final judgment on this adaptation. Without deserving the anticipation it has aroused since its announcement, this first part lays solid foundations for a promising adaptation. Frank Herbert may well have found in Denis Villeneuve his Mahdi.

Write to the author: fanny.agostino@leregardlibre.com

Photo credits: © Warner Bros