In “Here”, the next Zemeckis, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright have been generously rejuvenated

CINEMA – 30 years later, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright meet again, younger than ever. On June 25, Sony revealed the first images of the highly anticipated film Here. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film follows the lives of a couple, played by Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and the inhabitants of the same house, over a period of one hundred years. Based on the eponymous graphic novel by Richard McGuire published in 2014, the film makes extensive use of technology to digitally rejuvenate its actors.

Here follows (notably) a couple, played by Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, from their teenage years in the 1960s to their 80-somethings. Tom Hanks’ character’s story arc goes back even further, as he also spent his childhood in the house. Although the film mainly focuses on the family played by the duo of Forrest Gumpit also introduces the former inhabitants of the house over the years.

To achieve this visual tour de force, Robert Zemeckis used de-aging technology, or digital rejuvenation in French. Created in the 2000s, she appeared for the first time in cinema in 2008 with The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonand was later popularized with The Irishman. This technology makes it possible to age or rejuvenate the actors depending on the needs of the scenario. Sensors placed on the actors’ faces record their expressions, allowing the computer to analyze and modify their appearance.

Technology at the service of the story

The director is not new to using technology in all its forms in his films. Since his debut, Robert Zemeckis has always been at the forefront of technical innovation in Hollywood. Forrest Gump already seamlessly integrated the main character into real-life stock footage. He also used motion capture animation in The express center et The Legend of Beowulfand merged CGI sequences with real footage in Welcome to Marwen and its remake of Pinocchio. In the saga Back to the futurethe director had also already opted for the aging of his actors, keeping the same casting despite the “journey” through the ages.

Despite his reputation as a visual effects specialist, Zemeckis insists that these technologies always serve the narrative: “For one reason or another, I was always typecast as a visual effects specialist. But they were always there to serve the characters’ narratives. »

Robert Zemeckis was attracted to the unique concept of Richard McGuire’s book. In an interview given to Vanity Fairhe expresses his desire to create something never seen before in cinema: “In fact, this has never been done before. There are similar scenes in the very first silent films, before the language of editing was invented. But other than that, yes, it was a risky business. » In Here therefore, spectators will maintain the same point of view throughout the feature film, that of a single, static camera placed in a corner of the living room of the house. The release date has been set for November 13, 2024.

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