Director Besson explores new worlds with "The Fifth Element"

May 9, 1997
Web posted at: 9:03 a.m. EDT (1303 GMT)

From Correspondent Dennis Michael

Hollywood, California (CNN) -- Director Luc Besson's science fiction thriller "The Fifth Element" not only opens the annual Cannes film festival this weekend, but also opens a window on the world of French graphic novels.

"The Fifth Element" owes much of its design to Francophone science fiction graphic novels, best known in the U.S. to fans of Heavy Metal magazine.

Despite breaking ground with visuals and effects, the story of "The Fifth Element" is not new. Director Besson says it is one of the first narratives he ever dreamed up.

The movie centers on the driver of a 23rd century flying cab, a guy by the name of Korben Dallas. We know the actor as Bruce Willis.

Willis is on familiar ground with "Element," a high-budget action movie where he gets to save the world from evil. Save the world? Willis has been there, done that.

"It's all pretend," says the bankable star. "My job is just pretending. Pretend I'm in the 23rd century. Pretend that I'm saving the world. Pretend that there really is a spaceship over there shooting neutron bombs at me, or whatever kind of bombs they have in the 23rd century."

Willis's gender opposite, model turned actress Milla Jovovich, plays an otherworldly, genetically perfect being. Her character is also the key to the mystery of "The Fifth Element."

It was the outrageous costuming that made the transition from model to actress for Jovovich an easy one.

"It was great," said Jovovich. "I mean (fashion designer) Jean Paul Gaultier really got a free rein on this picture."

Fans of director Besson may well be in for a shock when they catch an eyeful of Gaultier's creations and the rest of the movie's look. It is nothing like Besson's early successes "The Big Blue," "La Femme Nikita" and "The Professional."

The last thing Besson wants it to be limited by his past.

"I don't want to do a 'La Femme Nikita' number one, number two, number three, number four, because it's boring," explained Besson.

 

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• Sony's Fifth Element site

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