Join us on this episode of the 2 A.C.T Pod as we dive into "Mars Express" (2023), a gripping French Neo-noir cyberpunk animated feature directed by Jeremie Perin that premiered in Cannes Film Festival 2023.

We follow the adventures of detectives Aline and her android partner Carlos as they navigate the dark, futuristic streets of Noctis in Mars, tracking down a hacker who holds the secret to the jailbroken robots that threaten Human society.

In this episode of the Two Act Podcast, co-hosts Adi and John delve into the French animated feature film "Mars Express." They explore its intricate plot, which begins with a student's murder on Mars, and discuss the film's world-building, animation style, and character development, particularly focusing on the android character, Carlos. The conversation touches on themes like organic AI, human consciousness uploading, and the film's use of subtext and symbolism. They also debate the merits of subtitles versus dubbing and the influence of cyberpunk works on the film, offering a nuanced analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.

Intro(00:00:01)

Themes and Influences (00:02:16)

World Building and Animation (00:09:10)

Character Development and Subtext (00:13:46)

Challenges and Language (00:20:24)

The development of organic AI and human consciousness (00:23:43)

Mixed reception and lack of awareness (00:25:47)

Exploring the theme of agency (00:28:07)

Action and animation quality (00:31:04)

Interpretation and subtext in the script (00:39:47)

World-building and plot complexity (00:41:06)

Ethical and existential questions (00:42:23)

The twist ending (00:44:15)

Rating and final thoughts on "Mars Express" (00:46:59)

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