12 Monkeys
In the wake of our Demons and Wonders summer program, it seemed only natural to showcase a filmmaker like Terry Gilliam — a true alchemist of fantastic cinema, whether in an absurd, exhilarating or disturbing vein. From his first steps with the Monty Python to his long-standing quest to adapt Don Quixote, his fantastical odyssey has taken him through adventure films, black comedies, science fiction, and fairy tales. From one film to another, he never ceased to celebrate dreamy children and extravagant adults, opening magical portals between reality and imagination.
Based on La jetée, 12 Monkeys is set in the year 2035. Nearly the entire population was wiped out by a virus in 1996, and the survivors now live underground. James Cole, a lifer, is sent back in time to gather information about the virus.
Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam is an American-born British filmmaker, actor, and comedian. He started his career as an animator and strip cartoonist. He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. He first joined them as an animator, but eventually became a full member and was given acting roles. He collaborated on the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, which he also co-directed), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). Gilliam transitioned to directing serious films with themes exploring imagination and oppositions to bureaucracy and authoritarianism. His films are sometimes set in dystopian worlds and involve black comedy and tragicomedic elements. He has directed 13 feature films, gaining acclaim for Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), The Fisher King (1991), 12 Monkeys (1995), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). The only Monty Python member not born in Britain, he became a naturalised British citizen in 1968 and formally renounced his American citizenship in 2006. In 2009, Gilliam received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement.
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