A french, female Indiana Jones

Perhaps better described as a cross between Indiana and Lois Lane, our intrepid reporter, Adèle deals with curious events in pre-war Paris (1911).

The wonderful SBS recently screened The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adèle Blanc-Sec, the glorious fantasy based on a french graphic novel series. If you haven’t seen it yet (for some reason it didn’t get general cinema release, despite its well-known director), you can view it via SBS’ OnDemand service on their website. Worth catching if only for the most violent tennis match you’ll ever see on screen!

Luc Besson directs this visually impressive adaptation of the graphic novel following an independent-minded writer who becomes embroiled in a mystery involving mummies, bad guys, and dinosaurs in pre World War I Paris. Desperate to cure her near catatonic sister, intrepid authoress Adèle Blanc-Sec braves ancient Egyptian tombs and modern Egyptian lowlife to locate a mummified doctor and get him back to Paris. Her hope is that oddball Professor Espérandieu will then use his unusual powers to bring the doctor back to life so he, in turn, can use his centuries-old skills on the unfortunate sister. In Paris however Espérandieu is already causing mayhem, having brought to life what was a safe museum egg but is now a very active pterodactyl.