Code Unknown
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys (Code Inconnu: Recit Incomplet De Divers Voyages) is a 2000 film directed by Michael Haneke. Most of the story occurs in Paris, France, though some scenes occur in Mali and Romania. Its plot centers in Paris, where the fates of several characters intersect and connect. Cinematically, the film is composed of unedited long takes filmed in real time, cut only when the perspective within a scene changes from one character's to another in mid-action.
Plot
The film features several different storylines, all of which intersect periodically throughout the film. The film's opening scene features a brief encounter with four of the main characters: Anne Laurent (Juliette Binoche) is an actress working in Paris, and she walks briefly with her boyfriend's younger brother Jean. After they part, Jean throws a piece of garbage at Maria, a homeless woman sitting on the side of the road. Amadou, the child of Malian immigrants, witnesses this and confronts Jean. The two fight, and eventually Amadou and Maria are both taken to a police station for questioning. Amadou is released presumably shortly after, though we learn that he was held, beaten and shamed, but Maria is deported to her native Romania and she reconnects with her family there.
Cast
Juliette Binoche - Anne Laurent
Thierry Neuvic - Georges
Josef Bierbichler - The Farmer (as Sepp Bierbichler)
Alexandre Hamidi - Jean
Maimouna Hélène Diarra - Aminate
Ona Lu Yenke - Amadou
Djibril Kouyaté - The Father
Luminita Gheorghiu - Maria
Crenguta Hariton - Irina (as Crenguta Hariton Stoica)
Awards and nominations
Code Unknown won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and received the Golden Palm award nomination. Cinematographer Jürges was nominated for the "Golden Frog" at the Camerimage awards.
