Dune: Part One
Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel was deemed unfilmable, but Denis Villeneuve delivered an overwhelming spectacle and won six Oscars. Rerelease ahead of the premiere of Dune: Part Two.
Timothée Chalamet (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) plays Paul Atreides, the brilliant and gifted hero of DUNE. As his father receives the stewardship of Arrakis, better known as Dune, a planet that contains a very precious resource, Paul Atreides is sent to defend the planet and secure the future of his people. The plot, however, is of secondary importance in this idiosyncratic film adaptation. It’s all about the very immersive world Villeneuve and his team – helped by a budget of 165 million and previous experience with BLADE RUNNER 2049 – create in DUNE.
Directors Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch already tried to adapt DUNE for the screen, respectively in the 1970s and 1984. Only Lynch succeeded, but his version failed both artistically and commercially. Although Frank Herbert’s original story appeared as early as 1965, there are countless similarities with current times. For example, DUNE talks about the preservation of ecosystems and colonialism. The latter theme is reflected in the fate of the people called the Fremen, the authentic inhabitants of Dune. Many of the Fremen women wear hijabs and the bulk of his interiors look like north Africa. In many ways, Villeneuve stated at a press conference, the story is more relevant than ever.