“Arco,” a debut feature by French illustrator Ugo Bienvenu, weaves a charming narrative of adolescent friendship against the backdrop of a world grappling with ecological disaster. The film, which premiered at Cannes as a special screening and counts Natalie Portman among its producers, follows a 10-year-old boy from the future whose first time travel experience goes awry.

He lands in 2075 and meets Iris, a girl his age, who helps him return home. Their adventure unfolds during a critical period in Earth’s history,offering both children a profound lesson about the natural world and the lasting impact of meaningful connections.

Bienvenu’s Vision of the Future

Bienvenu’s exploration of the future and the impact of technology on humanity extends beyond “Arco.” His graphic novel, “system Preference,” already translated into multiple languages and slated for U.S. release, envisions a world where data is a precious commodity. Humans must delete critically important cultural artifacts to make room for lower-stakes digital storage. An archivist attempts to preserve critical traditions and artwork by storing condemned data in the memory of Mikki, a domestic robot.

Mikki’s Role in 2075

Mikki, or a version of the yellow and black android, appears in “Arco.” Initially,the machine cares for Iris and her infant brother,Peter,functioning as a nanny while their parents are at work.Mikki projects holograms of Iris and Peter’s parents at the dinner table and during nighttime routines with the help of other devices.

A glimpse into Iris’ World

Iris’ world in 2075 features technology that seems within reach today. Humans have outsourced tasks to droids and adapted to unpredictable weather patterns using various tools. Neighborhoods are retrofitted with clear glass domes that activate during extreme weather. Robots serve as police officers, teachers, and postal employees. The specific roles humans still play in daily life remain somewhat ambiguous.

Visual Style and Influences

Bienvenu and his animation team depict Iris’ world with detail and a bold, realist touch. The director aims to represent his vision of the future with sobriety, avoiding romanticization of a time when robots reign and Earth shows signs of distress. While comparisons to Hayao Miyazaki are evident in style and themes, Bienvenu’s use of bold lines and detailed landscapes suggests traditional comic inspirations. The director uses stark colors to ground Iris’ surroundings, creating an elegiac mood.

Narrative and themes

Working from a screenplay co-written by Félix de Givry,Bienvenu balances melancholic aesthetics with an optimistic narrative. “Arco” begins in the future, where Arco’s parents and sister return from a time-traveling trip. In this future, humans live in arboretum-like colonies among the clouds. Time travel helps thes societies learn about Earth’s past and potential.

Arco, impatient to time-travel, steals his sister’s rainbow-patterned robe and embarks on his first trip. He lands in 2075 in a forest, where Iris finds him unconscious. She saves him from Frankie, Dougie, and Stewie, siblings who seek to prove the existence of otherworldly rainbow people. Iris lies to them and takes arco to her home.

Friendship and Revelation

Arco and Iris quickly form a bond based on curiosity and a love of nature. Despite initial reluctance, Arco shares information about himself, including the events leading to humans living in tree houses and his theft of his sister’s cape. He teaches Iris how to communicate with birds, while Iris helps arco adapt to her time and return home.

Arco alleviates Iris’ loneliness, and Iris inspires Arco. Close-ups of the characters’ expressive faces add depth to the film. While the film’s science-fiction principles could be clearer, a later plot thread involving mikki translating memories touches on cultural and historical preservation.

Climax and Environmental Themes

As Arco and Iris try to recreate the conditions for Arco’s flight,their town prepares for a wildfire. Iris’ friend Clifford becomes suspicious of Arco. Bienvenu and de Givry build a hopeful climate change story around adolescent friendship and loneliness. emergency drills and empty grocery stores reflect the looming environmental disaster, mirroring contemporary life. Like Claude Barras’ “Savages,” “Arco” envisions a future where humans survive, inspiring action and hope with the reminder that imagination is a powerful tool for younger generations.