Line #19 Film/DaftPunksElectroma


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/electroma_6047.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Yes, those white silhouettes are people.]]
3
4	->''"Because the whole movie is without dialogue, it's more a question than an answer. We wanted to make a question mark so people could project what they wanted onto ''Electroma'' – some people see it as sad, some as happy. Everyone is different."''
5	-->-- '''Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo''' giving an explanation for the film's design
6
7	''Daft Punk's Electroma'' is a 2006 avant-garde {{science fiction}} film directed by, [[InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt well]], Music/DaftPunk. The film's story revolves around two robots (meant to be separate characters, ''not'' the actual band members) who try to become human, setting off on a surreal, ''[[LeaveTheCameraRunning very]]'' [[LeaveTheCameraRunning patiently paced]], SceneryPorn-filled, and [[SilenceIsGolden completely dialogue-free]] journey.
8
9	It is the duo's only feature-length directorial effort and their only straightforward film, as their previous visual work had progressively shifted from a music video compilation (''D.A.F.T.'', made for ''Music/{{Homework}}'') to a feature-length music video of sorts (''Anime/Interstella5555'', made for ''Music/{{Discovery\|DaftPunkAlbum}}'').
10
11	Similarly, ''Electroma'' was a byproduct of the duo's 2005 album ''Music/HumanAfterAll'', exploring its CentralTheme of the duality of man and machine. The film began its life following the completion of the music videos for "Fresh", "Robot Rock" and "Technologic", which the duo also directed. As they moved onto shooting for the music video of the album's TitleTrack, they decided to extend the footage into a complete feature film, which they then opted to focus on instead of filming videos for the rest of the album. However, aside from the [[CoolHelmet famous helmets of the characters]] and "Daft Punk" being written on the main characters' jackets, the story has zero relation to any previously established continuity whatsoever.
12
13	Initially premiering at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, ''Electroma'' was later shown at independent film screenings in France, Canada, Australia and the US. As the duo had predicted, its experimental structure made for divisive reception, with one particularly long sequence causing a number of walkouts at its Cannes premiere. However, [[VindicatedByHistory a cult status began growing]] as soon as a year later when more public midnight screenings began, with the film selling out frequently and gaining a wider following.
14
15	In 2021, a climactic moment from the film ([[spoiler:the sequence where the silver robot [[DrivenToSuicide destroys himself]]]]) was uploaded to [=YouTube=] with the title "Epilogue", ahead of an announcement by Daft Punk's publicist that they would be disbanding.
16
17	----
18	!!''Daft Punk's Electroma'' provides examples of:
19
20	* BecomeARealBoy: What kickstarts the plot. Their car's [[VanityLicencePlate vanity plate]] even has the word "HUMAN" on it.
21	* CoolCar: A Ferrari 412, to be exact.
22	* CoolHelmet: So much so that everybody in town gets one! [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by the Guy-man protagonist, who smashes his to pieces.]]
23	* DespairEventHorizon:
24	** It is implied that the silver robot crosses this after their plan to become human goes awry and the locals chase them out of town, as he is seen staring into a mirror with no reaction as Guy-bot cleans himself up. For the rest of the film, he generally walks with his head down, as opposed to the Guy-robot, who walks normally. [[spoiler:[[DrivenToSuicide He never looks back, sadly.]]]]
25	** [[spoiler:The Guy-robot gets it after the silver robot's death, and resorts to setting himself on fire as a result]].
26	* DissonantSerenity:
27	** Operatic, melodic music plays as the hero robots (whose faces are seen melting), in a panic, run into a rundown restroom as they are pursued by a mob of townspeople.
28	** The ending, as [[spoiler:the burning Guy-robot walks through the desert]], backed by the languid folk song "I Want To Be Alone" by Jackson C. Frank.
29	* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The film ends with the main characters' goal thwarted, and both of them either dead (the silver robot, which blew itself up) or dying (the Guy-robot, who lights himself on fire).]]
30	* DrivenToSuicide: After trekking the desert for a while, [[spoiler:the silver robot starts to trail behind the Guy-bot. When he goes over to see what's wrong, the silver robot asks him to switch on the self-destruct keypad located on his back. He complies reluctantly. Shortly after, Guy-bot attempts this himself, but can't reach his own keypad. Instead, he opts to kill himself by setting himself on fire with a piece of his helmet.]]
31	* TheExile: Our heroes after their humanity stint gets them kicked out of town.
32	* {{Expy}}: The main characters themselves are ones for Music/DaftPunk's robot personas. The masks given to the two main characters bear striking resemblances to Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo's real faces.
33	* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:The silver robot seconds away from his detonation.]]
34	* TheFaceLess: The two main robots, as to be expected by Daft Punk. It's then shown that literally everybody in the town has the same helmets.
35	* FanDisservice: The two shirtless scenes [[spoiler:involve the subjects killing themselves.]]
36	* {{Foreshadowing}}: When things get bad for the two robots, a brief image of fire flashes up on the screen, [[spoiler:Hinting at Guy-bot's SelfImmolation later on.]]
37	* FromBadToWorse: First, their new faces start melting. Next, they're kicked out of town. It just kind of snowballs from there.
38	* GlamourFailure: The sun melts away our heroes' attempt to pass themselves as human.
39	* HellBentForLeather: Our heroes.
40	* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Both of ‘em.]]
41	* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:The silver robot experiences this first before crossing the DespairEventHorizon. Guy-bot follows suit shortly after the silver robot's death.]]
42	* HowWeGotHere: The film often cuts to footage of ''something'' burning in what appears to be a desert, with no clear view on what's actually happening. The end of the film reveals that this was caused by [[spoiler:the Guy-robot setting himself on fire in the desert]].
43	* ICannotSelfTerminate: [[spoiler:Both robots are unable to reach the self-destruct switch on their backs. One is forced to activate the other while not able to reach his own.]]
44	* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: If the helmets weren't a dead giveaway.
45	* LeFilmArtistique: It's a French film with an angsty, abstract bent as opposed to more conventional film. Thomas Bangalter stated that they approached making the film in a way similar to their music -- to freely create something with no mind towards standards.
46	* MechanicalLifeforms: The townsfolk act exactly like humans do. We're able to see elderly robots, child robots, and even a pregnant robot in one scene.
47	* TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf: Appears multiple times.
48	** The first time, our heroes see their melting masks in the reflection of an ice cream truck.
49	** The second time, the silver robot sees his face amongst the remains of his mask in the mirror while they hide from the mob.
50	** [[spoiler:The third time, Guy-bot takes his helmet off and examines his true face in it, prompting his RageAgainstTheReflection.]]
51	* NoNameGiven: Expected, as there is no dialogue. The credits even list our heroes as "Hero Robot #1" and "Hero Robot #2".
52	* OnlySixFaces: Every single robot in town have the same helmets, up to and including the protagonists themselves. The only difference is that the two hero characters have black necks, as opposed to the rest of the townsfolk, who either have white or no necks at all. {{Justified\|Trope}} due to the fact that they're all robots.
53	* RageAgainstTheReflection: [[spoiler:After looking at himself with his own visor, Guy-bot smashes it to pieces on the ground. He later uses the pieces to set himself on fire.]]
54	* SelfImmolation: [[spoiler:How Guy-bot bites it.]]
55	* ShirtlessScene: Twice. [[spoiler:[[TearJerker Both are more sad than anything.]]]]
56	* SilenceIsGolden: Not a single word of dialogue is spoken throughout the film.
57	* TemptingFate: The two hero robots get new human faces -- on a hot summer's day, without taking shelter, and while walking normally around a town of robots with no apparent attempt to blend in or leave the area. This earns them confused looks, derision, and eventually pursuit, by the townspeople, who run them out.
58	* ThousandYardStare: The silver robot while he and Guy-bot hide from the angry mob. He keeps trying to put his face back on as he does so, but it just won't work.
59	* TorchesAndPitchforks: The townsfolk after seeing the duo's new getup.
60	* UncannyValley: The human masks the main characters get. They try to resemble humans, but they just look ''wrong''. The fact that they are exaggerated, distorted versions of the real-life band's faces (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) also helps sell the off-kilter nature of the masks.
61	* UnflinchingWalk: [[spoiler:Guy-bot manages to pull this off when he sets himself on fire.]]
62	* VanityLicencePlate: "HUMAN" on the main characters' CoolCar.
63	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The Ferrari 412 which never shows up again after [[spoiler:they get their faces.]]
64	* WhiteVoidRoom: Where the two robots get latex masks to look human. Notable in the fact that the people inside save for them are part of the void as well, and thus can't be seen.

Context Film / DaftPunksElectroma