Les fils du vent (2004)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Julien Seri

Writers:

Bruno Guiblet (dialogue)
Philippe Lyon (writer)

Release Date:

23 June 2004 (France)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

A Mortal Fighter. An Eternal Combat.

Plot Keywords:

Tattoo | Interracial Relationship | Explosion | Parkour | Yakuza

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Williams Belle	...	Williams
Châu Belle Dinh	...	Kien
Malik Diouf	...	Kenjee
Yann Hnautra	...	Yann
Guylain N'Guba-Boyeke	...	Yaguy (as Guylain)
Charles Perrière	...	Logan
Laurent Piemontesi	...	Léo
Elodie Yung	...	Tsu
Santi Sudaros	...	Kitano
Burt Kwouk	...	Wong
Ian Kay	...	Terry (as Ian Kay)
Charles Jarman	...	Johnny
Gary Stoner	...	Ned
Jason Hunjan	...	Un sportif anglais
Tony Christian	...	Un sportif anglais

Also Known As:

El retorno de los Yamakashi (Spain)
Sons of the Wind (International: English title)
The Great Challenge (USA)
Yamakasi vs. Ong Bak (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence.

Runtime:

France:90 min

Country:

France | UK | Spain

Language:

French | Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Dan Films

Movie Connections:

References Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991) (VG)

C'est Magnifique

Seri has triumphed here in a sweat ridden roller-coaster ride of a film. How refreshing to see a unadulterated action flick doesn't rely on the geekery of CGI, to make it's set pieces come to life, but instead depends wholly on the breath taking athletic talents and bravery of it's entire cast.

I would explain the plot, but it would immediately expose a series of seemingly contrived plot devices in order to get the Yamikasi (the young troupe of French acrobatic building jumpers) to Bangkok, and into, well a whole heap load of trouble. But this film should not be analyzed in such a manner. Whilst puncturing your cornea with highly graded, much stylized Manga - esque images, Mr Seri has evidently immersed himself in Asian contemporary comic book and film culture, and the essence of marshal arts. Brief moments of spiritual enlightenment, racial tension and a love for one of the most exotically beautiful women to grace our screens in a long while (look out for Elodie Yung) puncture blistering scenes of fights a top bamboo scaffolded buildings, grim darkened steel warehouses, and a breath taking final denouement of ridiculous scale. Without a computer generated figure in sight. This is one for DVD replay buttons as mind boggling stunts are brushed aside with yet more bone crushing jumps, spins and kicks.

I already read criticism for this film, but this is the mistaken critique of those watching it in the wrong context. This film should be held up alongside the likes of Akira, and the films of Jakie Chan. And this is where Mr Seri's success truly lies, for he is introducing an entire generation of young Europeans to this much stylized idiom. Suspension of reality for the younger generation, heroics and bravery of young people performing in this high octane circus. If you didn't like it, I suspect you were not the person this film was designed for.

Bravo Monsieur Seri, Bravo!