Litan (film)

Litan is a 1982 French horror film co-written, produced, edited, and directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky and Jean-Claude Romer. It stars Marie-José Nat, Jean-Pierre Mocky, Nino Ferrer, and Marisa Muxen.

Litan
Original French theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jean-Pierre Mocky
Written by	Jean-Pierre Mocky Jean-Claude Romer Patrick Granier Scott Baker Suzy Baker
Produced by	Jean-Pierre Mocky
Starring	Marie-José Nat Jean-Pierre Mocky Nino Ferrer Marisa Muxen
Cinematography	Edmond Richard
Edited by	Jean-Pierre Mocky Catherine Renault
Music by	Nino Ferrer
Production companies	Films A2 M. Films
Distributed by	Coline Océanic Films
Release date	24 February 1982 (1982-02-24)
Running time	88 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

“Litan” is also recognised under alternate titles, including “La cité des spectres verts” and “Le voleur de visages,” which may vary by region.

Plot Summary

The film follows Nora and Jock, a couple visiting the enigmatic town of Litan, during its peculiar annual festival. Nora awakens from a prophetic nightmare in which she witnesses Jock's death, setting the tone for the unsettling events to come. Disturbed by her vision, she begins searching for him amidst the town’s eerie celebrations.

As they navigate the mysterious streets, the couple encounters a series of bizarre and disturbing phenomena. Their investigation leads them to a local hospital, where they uncover horrific experiments conducted by Dr. Steve Julien, the chief physician. Julien is obsessed with reviving the dead and communicating with the deceased, a grotesque pursuit that casts a macabre shadow over the already sinister setting.

The town is also terrorized by a glowing, worm-like entity that infests the waters. This parasitic creature possesses individuals and rapidly dissolves corpses, intensifying the atmosphere of dread. The couple witnesses other horrifying acts, including the removal of vocal cords from dogs, symbolizing the pervasive madness that grips Litan.

As the festival reaches its climax, the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Nora and Jock face mounting threats from the possessed townspeople and the supernatural forces controlling the town. Their desperate attempts to escape culminate in a harrowing finale, forcing them to confront existential questions about life, death, and their own mortality.

Cast

• Marie-José Nat - Nora
• Jean-Pierre Mocky - Jock
• Nino Ferrer - Le docteur Steve Julien
• Marisa Muxen - Estelle Servais
• Bill Dunn - Cornell
• Georges Wod [fr] - Bohr
• Dominique Zardi - Le chef des fous

Release

Litan, was released in France on February 24, 1982. The film was recently re-released in a 4K restoration on May 4, 2022.

Reception

Awards and nominations

Litan won the Critics Award at the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival.^[1] It also won the award for Best Screenplay at the Catalonian International Film Festival.^[2]