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{{short description|2012 film directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Cloud Atlas
| name = Cloud Atlas
| image = Cloud Atlas Poster.jpg
| image = Cloud Atlas Poster.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = {{Plainlist|
| director = {{ubl|[[The Wachowskis|Lana Wachowski]]|[[Tom Tykwer]]|[[The Wachowskis|Andy Wachowski]]}}
* [[Lana Wachowski]]
| producer = {{ubl|[[Grant Hill (producer)|Grant Hill]]|[[Stefan Arndt]]|Lana Wachowski|Tom Tykwer|Andy Wachowski}}
* [[Tom Tykwer]]
| co-producer = {{ubl|[[Alexander Rodnyansky]]|Alexander van Duelmen|Roberto Malerba}}
| screenplay = {{ubl|Lana Wachowski|Tom Tykwer|Andy Wachowski}}
* [[Lilly Wachowski]]{{efn|name=Lilly|Credited as ''Andy Wachowski''.}}
}}
| based on = {{Based on|''[[Cloud Atlas (novel)|Cloud Atlas]]''|[[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]]}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
| starring = {{ubl|[[Tom Hanks]]|[[Halle Berry]]|[[Jim Broadbent]]|[[Hugo Weaving]]|[[Jim Sturgess]]|[[Bae Doona|Doona Bae]]|[[Ben Whishaw]]|[[James D'Arcy]]|[[Zhou Xun]]|[[Keith David]]|[[David Gyasi]]|[[Susan Sarandon]]|[[Hugh Grant]]}}
* [[Grant Hill (producer)|Grant Hill]]
| music = {{ubl|Tom Tykwer|[[Johnny Klimek]]|[[Reinhold Heil]]}}
* [[Stefan Arndt]]
| cinematography = {{ubl|[[Frank Griebe]]|[[John Toll]]}}
* Lana Wachowski
* Tom Tykwer
* Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
}}
| writer = {{Plainlist|
* Lana Wachowski
* Tom Tykwer
* Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
}}
| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Cloud Atlas (novel)|Cloud Atlas]]''|[[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]]}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tom Hanks]]
* [[Halle Berry]]
* [[Jim Broadbent]]
* [[Hugo Weaving]]
* [[Jim Sturgess]]
* [[Bae Doona|Doona Bae]]
* [[Ben Whishaw]]
* [[James D'Arcy]]
* [[Zhou Xun]]
* [[Keith David]]
* [[Susan Sarandon]]
* [[Hugh Grant]]
}}
| music = {{Plainlist|
* Tom Tykwer
* [[Johnny Klimek]]
* [[Reinhold Heil]]
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* [[John Toll]]
* [[Frank Griebe]]
}}
| editing = Alexander Berner
| editing = Alexander Berner
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
| studio = {{ubl|Cloud Atlas Production|X-Filme Creative Pool|Anarchos Production}}
* [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]{{efn|Co-distributed with X-Verleih in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|title='Cloud Atlas' Poised for International Comeback|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=12 November 2012|access-date=6 August 2022|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/cloud-atlas-poised-international-comeback-389267/amp/|archive-date=6 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806173617/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/cloud-atlas-poised-international-comeback-389267/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} (Select territories)
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros. Pictures]]
* [[Focus Features]] (International)
| released = {{Film date|2012|09|08|[[Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|2012|10|26|North America|2013|01|09|South Korea|2013|02|22|United Kingdom|2013|03|13|France|2013|03|15|Japan}}
}}
| country = Germany<ref name="variety"/><ref name="tiff">{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2012/cloudatlas|publisher=Toronto International Film Festival|accessdate=29 October 2012|title=Cloud Atlas|author=Bailey, Cameron}}</ref><ref name="Eyes">{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jun/22/cloud-atlas-filmed-berlin|title=Cloud Atlas to be filmed in Berlin as city eyes starring role in movies|work=The Guardian|date=22 June 2011}}</ref>
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2012|09|08|[[2012 Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|2012|10|26|United States|2012|11|15|Germany}}
| runtime = 172 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 171:37--><ref>{{cite web|title=''CLOUD ATLAS'' (15)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF294095/|work=British Board of Film Classification|date=8 October 2012|accessdate=8 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fandango.com/cloudatlas_156784/movieoverview?date=|title=Cloud Atlas Movie Tickets, Reviews, and Photos|work=Fandango|accessdate=2 November 2012}}</ref>
| runtime = {{Plainlist|
| language = English<ref name="variety"/><ref name="tiff"/>
* 172 minutes<!--172 per most sources --><ref>{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/cloud-atlas-2013-1 | title=''Cloud Atlas'' (15) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=8 October 2012 | access-date=8 October 2012 | archive-date=1 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101222712/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/cloud-atlas-2013-1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theguardian"/>
| budget = $102 million<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Amy|title='Silent Hill' sequel likely to lead lackluster weekend at box office|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-box-office-cloud-atlas-mavericks-silent-hill-20121025,0,5144803.story|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=25 October 2012}}</ref>
}}
| gross = $130,482,868<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm|title=Cloud Atlas (2012) |publisher=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=25 April 2013}}</ref>
| country = {{Plainlist|
* Germany
* United Kingdom
* United States<ref name="lumiere">{{cite web|url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=40855|access-date=17 September 2015|title=Cloud Atlas|work=Lumiere|publisher=[[European Audiovisual Observatory]]|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623160351/http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=40855|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
| language = English
| budget = $100–146.7 million<ref name=budget/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kohlenberg|first=Kerstin|title=Filmpiraterie: Aufnahme läuft|url=http://www.zeit.de/2013/07/Film-Piraterie|publisher=ZEIT Online|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=27 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027090230/http://www.zeit.de/2013/07/Film-Piraterie|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross = $130.5 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm|title=Cloud Atlas (2012)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=24 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424125510/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* Cloud Atlas Productions
* X Filme Creative Pool
* Anarchos Productions}}
}}
}}
'''''Cloud Atlas''''' is a 2012 [[epic film|epic]] [[science fiction film]] written and directed by [[the Wachowskis]] and [[Tom Tykwer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/50c30bac52cfe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712124755/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/50c30bac52cfe|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2016|title=Cloud Atlas (2013)}}</ref> Based on the [[Cloud Atlas (novel)|2004 novel]] by [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]], it has multiple plots occurring during six eras and features an ensemble cast who perform multiple roles across these time periods.
'''''Cloud Atlas''''' is a 2012 [[Cinema of Germany|German]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/cloud-atlas/5046360.article|title=Cloud Atlas|last=Hunter|first=Allan|work=[[Screen International]]|date=9 September 2012|accessdate=30 October 2012}}</ref> [[Drama film|drama]] and [[science fiction film|science fiction]] film<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/cloud-atlas-v545241|work=Allmovie|accessdate=29 October 2012|author=Seibert, Perry|title=Cloud Atlas (2012) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie}}</ref> written, produced and directed by [[The Wachowskis]] and [[Tom Tykwer]]. Adapted from the [[Cloud Atlas (novel)|2004 novel]] by [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]], the film features multiple plotlines set across six different eras. The official synopsis for ''Cloud Atlas'' describes the film as: "An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one [[soul]] is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2011/09/15/Wachowskis-to-start-filming-Cloud-Atlas/UPI-64481316141970|title=Wachowskis to start filming 'Cloud Atlas'|work=[[UPI]]|date=15 September 2011}}</ref>


During four years of development, the project met difficulties securing financial support; it was eventually produced with a $102 million budget provided by independent sources, making ''Cloud Atlas'' one of the most expensive [[independent films]] of all time. Production began in September 2011 at [[Babelsberg Studio|Studio Babelsberg]] in [[Babelsberg|Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany]].
The film was produced by [[Grant Hill (producer)|Grant Hill]] and [[Stefan Arndt]], in addition to the Wachowskis and Tykwer. During its four years of development, the producers had difficulties securing financial support. It was eventually produced with a budget between US$100 million and US$146.7 million provided by independent sources, making it one of the most expensive independent films ever produced. Filming for ''Cloud Atlas'' began in September 2011 at [[Babelsberg Studio]] in [[Babelsberg|Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany]].


''Cloud Atlas'' premiered on 9 September 2012 at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival|37th Toronto International Film Festival]]<ref name="LAtimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-toronto-20120909,0,3034761.story|title=Wachowskis open up their 'Cloud Atlas' at last|publisher=''Los Angeles Times''|accessdate=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012}}</ref> and was released on 26 October 2012 in conventional and [[IMAX]] cinemas.<ref>{{cite news |author=Sandy Schaefer|url=http://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-imax-tv-spots/?_r=true|title='Cloud Atlas' Arriving in IMAX Theaters; First TV Spot Released|publisher=Screen Rant|date=24 September 2012}}</ref> It polarized critics, and has subsequently been included on various Best Film and Worst Film lists.<ref name="Austin Film Critics Association Awards"/><ref name="Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards"/><ref name="Indiwire"/> The film was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]] for Tykwer (who co-scored the film), [[Johnny Klimek]] and [[Reinhold Heil]].<ref name="goldenglobes.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/|title=Nominations 2013 — Golden Globe Awards|date=13 December 2012|work=Golden Globes|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> It also received several nominations of the [[Saturn Awards]] including [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]], winning for [[Saturn Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]] and [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]].
It premiered on 8 September 2012 at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival|37th Toronto International Film Festival]],<ref name="LAtimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-toronto-20120909,0,3034761.story|title=Wachowskis open up their 'Cloud Atlas' at last|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012|first=Mark|last=Olsen|archive-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911094743/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-toronto-20120909,0,3034761.story|url-status=live}}</ref> and was publicly released on 26 October 2012 in conventional and [[IMAX]] cinemas.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sandy Schaefer|url=https://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-imax-tv-spots/?_r=true|title='Cloud Atlas' Arriving in IMAX Theaters; First TV Spot Released|website=Screen Rant|date=24 September 2012|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228173348/https://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-imax-tv-spots/?_r=true|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics were polarized, causing it to be included on various "Best Film" and "Worst Film" lists.<ref name="Austin Film Critics Association Awards"/><ref name="Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards"/><ref name="Indiwire"/> It was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]] for Tykwer (who co-scored the film), [[Johnny Klimek]], and [[Reinhold Heil]].<ref name="goldenglobes.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/|title=Nominations 2013 — Golden Globe Awards|date=13 December 2012|work=Golden Globes|access-date=13 December 2012|archive-date=14 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214105703/http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It received several nominations at the [[Saturn Awards]], including [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]], and won for [[Saturn Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]] and [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
The story jumps between eras, spanning hundreds of years, until each storyline eventually resolves. Writings from characters in prior storylines are found in future storylines. Characters appear to recur in each era, but change relationships to each other, suggesting reincarnation or other connection between souls through the ages.
The film consists of six interrelated and interwoven stories spanning different time periods. The film is structured, according to novelist David Mitchell, "as a sort of [[pointillism|pointillist]] [[mosaic]]."<ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Mitchell |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443675404578060870111158076.html |title=Translating ''Cloud Atlas'' into the Language of Film |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=19 October 2012 }}</ref>


In the [[Chatham Islands]], 1849, American lawyer Adam Ewing is waiting for his transport ship to be repaired. He witnesses the whipping of Autua, an enslaved [[Moriori people|Moriori]] man. Autua stows away on Ewing's ship, having noticed Ewing's sympathy, and persuades him to advocate for Autua to join the crew as a free man. Autua saves Ewing's life before the ship's doctor, Henry Goose, can poison Ewing and steal his gold under the guise of treating him for a parasitic worm. In [[San Francisco]], Ewing and his wife Tilda denounce her father's complicity in slavery and leave for New York to join the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolition movement]].
===Pacific Islands, 1849===
Adam Ewing, an American lawyer from [[San Francisco]], has come to the [[Chatham Islands]] to conclude a business arrangement with Reverend Gilles Horrox for his father-in-law, Haskell Moore. He witnesses the whipping of a [[Moriori people|Moriori]] slave, Autua, who later [[stowaway|stows away]] on the ship. He confronts Ewing and convinces him to advocate for him to join the crew as a freeman. Meanwhile, Dr. Henry Goose slowly poisons Ewing, claiming it to be the cure for a parasitic worm, aiming to steal Ewing's valuables. When Goose attempts to administer the fatal dose, Autua saves Ewing. Returning to the United States, Ewing and his wife Tilda denounce her father's complicity in slavery and leave San Francisco to join the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolition movement]].<ref name="Info Graphic 2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Cloud-Atlas-Infographic-Explains-Karmic-Journeys-Movie-Characters-33823.html |title=''Cloud Atlas'' infographic explains the karmic journeys of the movie's characters |publisher=Cinema Blend |date=29 October 2012 |accessdate=16 August 2013 |last=Puchko |first=Kristy }}</ref><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/guide-to-the-characters-and-connections-of-cloud-atlas-confused.html |title=Your Guide to the Characters and Connections of Cloud Atlas |publisher=New York Media LLC. and Vulture |date=27 October 2012 |accessdate=16 August 2013 |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer }}</ref>


In 1936, English composer Robert Frobisher finds work as an [[amanuensis]] to aging composer Vyvyan Ayrs, allowing Frobisher to compose his own masterpiece, "The Cloud Atlas Sextet". As the sextet nears completion, Ayrs demands credit for it and threatens to expose Frobisher's bisexuality if he refuses. Frobisher shoots and wounds Ayrs and goes into hiding. Frobisher finishes the sextet and shoots himself before Frobisher's lover Rufus Sixsmith arrives.
===Cambridge, 1936===
Robert Frobisher, a bisexual English composer, finds work as an [[amanuensis]] to aging composer Vyvyan Ayrs, allowing Frobisher the time and inspiration to compose his own masterpiece, "The Cloud Atlas [[Sextet]]." While working for Ayrs, Frobisher begins reading the published chronicle of Adam Ewing's journal which he has found among the many books at Ayrs's mansion. He never finishes reading the journal and notes in a letter that "A half-finished book is, after all, a half-finished love affair." When "The Cloud Atlas Sextet" is revealed to Ayrs, he wishes to take credit for Frobisher's work, claiming it is the result of their collaboration and threatens to expose his scandalous background if he resists. Frobisher shoots and wounds Ayrs and flees to a hotel. Perhaps spurred by his inability to complete Ewing's book, he finishes "The Cloud Atlas Sextet", then commits [[suicide]], just before his lover Rufus Sixsmith arrives.<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>


In San Francisco, 1973, journalist Luisa Rey meets Sixsmith, now a nuclear physicist. Sixsmith tips off Rey to a conspiracy to create a catastrophe at a nuclear reactor run by Lloyd Hooks, who secretly promotes oil-energy interests. He is killed by Hooks' hitman, Bill Smoke, before he can give her a report as proof. Scientist Isaac Sachs passes her a copy of Sixsmith's report, but Smoke kills Sachs and then runs Rey's car off a bridge, destroying the report. With help from the plant's head of security, Joe Napier, Rey evades another assassination attempt, and Smoke is killed. With another copy of the report from Sixsmith's niece, Rey exposes the plot and has Hooks indicted.
===San Francisco, 1973===
Journalist Luisa Rey meets an older Rufus Sixsmith, now a nuclear physicist. Sixsmith tips off Rey to a conspiracy regarding the safety of a new [[nuclear reactor]] run by Lloyd Hooks, but is killed by Hooks' hitman Bill Smoke before he can give her a report that proves it. Rey finds and reads Frobisher's letters to Sixsmith, resulting in her tracking down a vinyl recording of Frobisher's "The Cloud Atlas Sextet." Isaac Sachs, another scientist at the power plant, passes her a copy of Sixsmith's report. However, Smoke kills Sachs by blowing up the plane in which he is flying, and later also runs Rey's car off a bridge. Although she escapes, the report is destroyed. With help from the plant's head of security, Joe Napier, who knew her father, she evades another attempt against her life which results in Smoke's death and with another copy of the report, exposes the plot to use a nuclear accident for the benefit of oil companies.<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>


In [[London]], 2012, gangster Dermot Hoggins murders a critic after a harsh review of his memoir, generating huge sales. Hoggins' brothers threaten the publisher, the aging Timothy Cavendish, for Hoggins' profits. Timothy's brother, Denholme, tells him to hide at Aurora House. Believing Aurora House is a hotel, Timothy signs in, only to discover he has unwittingly committed himself to a nursing home where all outside contact is prohibited; Denholme reveals that he sent Timothy there as revenge for an affair with his wife. Timothy escapes with three other residents, resumes his relationship with an old flame, and writes a screenplay about his experience.
===London, 2012===
65-year-old publisher Timothy Cavendish reaps a windfall when Dermot Hoggins, the [[gangster]] author of ''Knuckle Sandwich'', publicly murders a critic who gave the novel a harsh review. When Hoggins's brothers threaten Cavendish's life to get his share of the profits, Cavendish asks for help from his wealthy brother Denholme. Avenging an old affair with his wife, Denholme tricks Timothy into hiding in a [[nursing home]] (which is located in Ayrs' old mansion), where he is held against his will and abused by the head nurse, Noakes. While there, Cavendish reads a manuscript of a novel based on Luisa Rey's story. Plotting with three other residents, Cavendish escapes and goes on to write a screenplay of his story.<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>


In [[Korea]] in 2144, Sonmi-451 is a "fabricant", a humanoid clone indentured as a fast food server in a dystopian Neo [[Seoul]]. She is exposed to ideas of rebellion by another fabricant, Yoona-939, who has obtained a clip of the movie about Cavendish's involuntary institutionalization. After Yoona is killed, Sonmi is rescued by rebel Commander Hae-Joo Chang, who exposes Sonmi to the banned writings of [[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]] and the full film version of Cavendish's experience. Eventually, Hae-Joo shows her that fabricants are actually recycled into food that keeps them acquiescent. Sonmi makes a public broadcast of her revelations before the authorities attack, killing Hae-Joo and recapturing Sonmi. After recounting her story to an archivist, she is executed.
===Neo Seoul, 2144===
Sonmi~451 is a genetically-engineered fabricant, a human [[cloning|clone]] and [[slavery|slave worker]] living a compliant life of servitude as a server at a [[fast food]] restaurant. She recounts her memories before an interviewer, an [[archivist]] whose purpose is to document her thoughts and story for the future. Sonmi begins by recounting a day in the life of a fabricant like herself. She tells how she was exposed to ideas of rebellion and liberation (based on Cavendish's adventures), and how she was rescued from captivity by Commander Hae-Joo Chang, a member of a rebel movement known as "Union". He smuggles her to a residence in Neo Seoul where he exposes Sonmi to the larger world, including the [[Censorship|banned]] writings of [[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]] and a film version of Timothy Cavendish's "ghastly ordeal". They are found and Sonmi is captured. Hae-Joo rescues her, introduces her to the leader of the rebel movement, then shows her that fabricants are not freed at the end of their contract as they are told, but are killed and "recycled" into food for other clones. She decides that the system of society based on slavery and exploitation is intolerable, and makes a public broadcast of her story and [[manifesto]]. Hae-Joo is killed in a firefight and Sonmi is captured again. After telling her story to the archivist, she is executed.<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>


In 2321, the tribespeople of a post-apocalyptic [[Hawaii]] worship Sonmi, whose recorded testimony is the basis of their sacred text. Zachry Bailey's village is visited by Meronym, a member of an advanced, off-world society called the Prescients, who are dying from a plague. Meronym is searching for a forgotten communication station on Mauna Sol to send an SOS to off-world humans. In exchange for healing Zachry's niece, Catkin, Meronym is guided by Zachry to the station where Sonmi made her recording. Returning home, Zachry finds his tribe slaughtered by the cannibalistic Kona tribe. He kills the sleeping Kona chief and rescues Catkin before he and Meronym fight off the other Kona tribesmen. Zachry and Catkin join Meronym and the Prescients as their ship leaves Big Island. On a distant planet, Zachry is married to Meronym and recounts the story to his grandchildren.
===Big Isle, 106 winters after The Fall===
Zachry lives in a [[primitive culture|primitive]] society called "The Valley" after most of humanity has died during "The Fall," a largely-unexplained apocalyptic event.<ref>This section is dated "106 winters after The Fall" in the film but as "2321" in the end credits.</ref> The Valley tribesmen speak a [[pidgin]] form of English,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/10/25/the_cloud_atlas_phrasebook_your_guide_to_yibberin_the_true_true_language.html|title=The Cloud Atlas Phrasebook: Your Guide to Yibberin' the True True|last=Wickman|first=Forrest|work=Slate.com|date=October 25, 2012|accessdate=January 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theweek.com/article/index/235481/cloud-atlas-6-fascinating-behind-the-scenes-facts|title=Cloud Atlas: 6 fascinating behind-the-scenes facts|work=theweek.com|date=October 26, 2012|accessdate=January 10, 2014}}</ref> and worship a goddess called Sonmi (Sonmi~451), their sacred text taken from the broadcast of her manifesto. Zachry is plagued by hallucinations of a demonic figure called "Old Georgie", who attempts to manipulate him into giving in to his fears. One day, Zachry, Adam (Zachry's brother-in-law)<ref name="Cloud Atlas Details 2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.movies.com/cloud-atlas/details/m68902 |title=''Cloud Atlas'' Details |publisher=Movies.com |accessdate=16 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moviefone.com/movie/cloud-atlas/10065512/credits |title=Cast, Crew & Credits for ''Cloud Atlas'' |publisher=MovieFone |accessdate=16 August 2013 }}</ref><ref name="www.visualhollywood.com/">{{cite web |url=http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2012/cloud_atlas/cast.php |title=''Cloud Atlas'' (2012) — About the Cast |publisher=www.visualhollywood.com/ |accessdate=16 August 2013 }}</ref> and Zachry's nephew are attacked by the cannibalistic Kona tribe. Zachry himself runs into hiding and watches as his companions are murdered. His village is visited by Meronym, a member of the "Prescients", an advanced society still using the last remnants of technology. Her mission is to find a remote communication station called Mauna Sol and send a message to Earth's off-world colonies. Catkin, Zachry's niece, falls sick, and in exchange for saving her, Zachry agrees to guide Meronym into the mountains to find the station. At the station, Meronym reveals that Sonmi was not a deity as the Valley tribe believes, but a human who died long ago. After returning, Zachry finds his tribe dead, slaughtered by the Kona. He kills the Kona chief, rescues Catkin, and Meronym saves them both from an assault by Kona tribesmen. Zachry and Catkin join Meronym and the Prescients as their ship leaves Big Island (which was formerly Hawaii).<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>

===Prologue / Epilogue===
A seventh time period, several decades after the events on Big Island, is featured in the film's prologue and epilogue: Zachry is revealed to have been telling these stories to his grandchildren on a beach near a city on an extraterrestrial Earth colony. The epilogue also confirms that Meronym succeeded in sending the message and traveled to the off-world colony where she lives with Zachry.<ref name="Info Graphic 2013"/><ref name="New York Media LLC Vulture 2013"/>


==Main cast==
==Main cast==
The protagonist of each story is indicated in '''bold'''.

<!--READ ME - Do not make changes to this cast table. All character names are taken directly from the official cast page and the closing credits from the film.-->
<!--READ ME - Do not make changes to this cast table. All character names are taken directly from the official cast page and the closing credits from the film.-->
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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! width=10% | Actor
! style="width:10%;"| Actor
! width=15% | Pacific Islands, 1849
! style="width:15%;"| Pacific Islands, 1849
! width=15% | Cambridge, 1936
! style="width:15%;"| Cambridge / Edinburgh, 1936
! width=15% | San Francisco, 1973
! style="width:15%;"| San Francisco, 1973
! width=15% | London, 2012
! style="width:15%;"| London, 2012
! width=15% | Neo Seoul, 2144
! style="width:15%;"| Neo Seoul, 2144
! width=15% | Big Isle, 106 winters after The Fall
! style="width:15%;"| Big Island, 106 winters after The Fall (2321)
|-
|-
| <center>[[Tom Hanks]]</center>
| [[Tom Hanks]]
| <center>Dr. Henry Goose</center>
| Dr. Henry Goose
| <center>Hotel Manager</center>
| Hotel Manager
| <center>Isaac Sachs</center>
| Isaac Sachs
| <center>Dermot Hoggins</center>
| Dermot Hoggins
| <center>Cavendish Look-a-like Actor</center>
| Cavendish Look-alike Actor
| <center>'''Zachry'''<center>
| '''Zachry Bailey'''
|-
|-
| <center>[[Halle Berry]]</center>
| [[Halle Berry]]
| <center>Native Woman</center>
| Native Woman
| <center>Jocasta Ayrs</center>
| Jocasta Ayrs
| <center>'''Luisa Rey'''</center>
| '''Luisa Rey'''
| <center>Indian Party Guest</center>
| Indian Party Guest
| <center>Ovid</center>
| Ovid
| <center>Meronym</center>
| Meronym
|-
|-
| <center>[[Jim Broadbent]]</center>
| [[Jim Broadbent]]
| <center>Captain Molyneux</center>
| Captain Molyneux
| <center>Vyvyan Ayrs</center>
| Vyvyan Ayrs
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>'''Timothy Cavendish'''</center>
| '''Timothy Cavendish'''
| <center>Korean Musician</center>
| Korean Musician
| <center>Prescient 2</center>
| Prescient
|-
|-
| [[Jim Sturgess]]
| <center>[[Hugo Weaving]]</center>
| '''Adam Ewing'''
| <center>Haskell Moore</center>
| Poor Hotel Guest
| <center>Tadeusz Kesselring</center>
| Megan's Dad
| <center>Bill Smoke</center>
| Highlander
| <center>Nurse Noakes</center>
| Hae-Joo Chang
| <center>Boardman Mephi</center>
| Adam (Zachry's<!--Per discussion with verification on the talk page, the character's name is correct as is. Please do not change to "Zachry's".--> Brother-in-Law)
| <center>Old Georgie</center>
|-
|-
| [[Ben Whishaw]]
| <center>[[Jim Sturgess]]</center>
| Cabin Boy
| <center>'''Adam Ewing'''</center>
| '''Robert Frobisher'''
| <center>Poor Hotel Guest</center>
| Record Store Clerk
| <center>Megan's Dad</center>
| Georgette Cavendish
| <center>Highlander</center>
| {{N/A}}
| <center>Hae-Joo Chang</center>
| Tribesman
| <center>Adam / Zachry<!--Per discussion with verification on the talk page, the character's name is correct as is. Please do not change to "Zachry's".--> Brother-in-Law</center>
|-
|-
| <center>[[Bae Doona|Doona Bae]]</center>
| [[Bae Doona|Doona Bae]]
| <center>Tilda Ewing</center>
| Tilda Ewing
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>Megan's Mom, Mexican Woman</center>
| Megan's Mom, Mexican Woman
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>'''Sonmi~451''', Sonmi~351, Sonmi Prostitute</center>
| '''Sonmi-451''', Sonmi-351, Sonmi Prostitute
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
|-
|-
| [[Hugo Weaving]]
| <center>[[Ben Whishaw]]</center>
| Haskell Moore
| <center>Cabin Boy</center>
| Tadeusz Kesselring
| <center>'''Robert Frobisher'''</center>
| Bill Smoke
| <center>Store Clerk</center>
| Nurse Noakes
| <center>Georgette</center>
| Boardman Mephi
| {{N/A}}
| Old Georgie
| <center>Tribesman</center>
|-
|-
| [[Hugh Grant]]
| <center>[[James D'Arcy]]</center>
| Rev. Giles Horrox
| Hotel Heavy
| Lloyd Hooks
| Denholme Cavendish
| Seer Rhee
| Kona Chief
|-
| [[Susan Sarandon]]
| Madame Horrox
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>Young Rufus Sixsmith</center>
| <center>Old Rufus Sixsmith</center>
| <center>Nurse James</center>
| <center>Archivist</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Older Ursula
| Yosouf Suleiman
| Abbess
|-
|-
| <center>[[Zhou Xun]]</center>
| [[Keith David]]
| {{N/A}}
| Kupaka
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Joe Napier
| <center>Talbot / Hotel Manager</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| An-kor Apis
| <center>Yoona~939</center>
| Prescient
| <center>Rose</center>
|-
|-
| [[James D'Arcy]]
| <center>[[Keith David]]</center>
| <center>Kupaka</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Young Rufus Sixsmith
| <center>Joe Napier</center>
| Old Rufus Sixsmith
| Nurse James
| Archivist Park
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>An-kor Apis</center>
| <center>Prescient</center>
|-
|-
| <center>[[David Gyasi]]</center>
| [[Zhou Xun]]
| <center>Autua</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>Lester Rey</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Talbot (Hotel Manager)
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Yoona-939
| <center>Duophysite</center>
| Rose
|-
|-
| [[David Gyasi]]
| <center>[[Susan Sarandon]]</center>
| Autua
|<center> Madame Horrox</center>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| Lester Rey
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| <center>Older Ursula</center>
| Duophysite
| <center>Yosouf Suleiman</center>
| <center>Abbess</center>
|-
| <center>[[Hugh Grant]]</center>
| <center>Rev. Giles Horrox</center>
| <center>Hotel Heavy</center>
| <center>Lloyd Hooks</center>
| <center>Denholme Cavendish</center>
| <center>Seer Rhee</center>
| <center>Kona Chief</center>
|}
|}


Author [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]] makes a cameo appearance as a double agent in the futuristic Korea section.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/in-the-clouds-david-mitchell-on-gender-bending-and-the-future-of-civilisation-8505001.html|title=In the clouds: David Mitchell on gender bending and the future of civilisation|last=Eyre|first=Hermione|work=Standard|date=22 February 2013|accessdate=22 June 2013}}</ref>
Other cast members who appear in more than one segment include [[Robert Fyfe]], [[Martin Wuttke]], Brody Nicholas Lee, [[Alistair Petrie]], and [[Sylvestra Le Touzel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/fullcredits|title=Full ''Cloud Atlas'' cast|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=14 April 2013|archive-date=3 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203073328/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/fullcredits?|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, author David Mitchell makes a cameo appearance as a double agent in the futuristic Korea section.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/in-the-clouds-david-mitchell-on-gender-bending-and-the-future-of-civilisation-8505001.html|title=In the clouds: David Mitchell on gender bending and the future of civilisation|last=Eyre|first=Hermione|work=Evening Standard|date=22 February 2013|access-date=22 June 2013|archive-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227052510/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/in-the-clouds-david-mitchell-on-gender-bending-and-the-future-of-civilisation-8505001.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Production==
==Production==


===Development===
===Development===
The film is based on the 2004 novel ''[[Cloud Atlas (novel)|Cloud Atlas]]'' by [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]]. Filmmaker [[Tom Tykwer]] revealed in January 2009 his intent to adapt the novel and said he was working on a screenplay with [[the Wachowskis]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Billington|first=Alex|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/tom-tykwer-adapting-cloud-atlas-with-wachowski-brothers| title=Tom Tykwer Adapting Cloud Atlas with Wachowski Brothers|work=First Showing|date=29 January 2009|accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> who optioned the novel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Keenan|first=Catherine|title=David Mitchell – Interview|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=2 April 2011}}</ref> By June 2010, Tykwer had asked actors [[Natalie Portman]], [[Tom Hanks]], [[Halle Berry]], [[James McAvoy]], and [[Ian McKellen]] to star in ''Cloud Atlas''.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/cloud-atlas-aims-to-recruit-all-star-cast/176563|title='Cloud Atlas' aims to recruit all-star cast | work=[[NME]]|date=17 June 2010|accessdate=16 September 2011 }}</ref> By April 2011, the Wachowskis joined Tykwer in co-directing the film.<ref name="Gathers">{{cite journal|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118035354| title='Cloud Atlas' gathers with Tom Hanks|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=12 April 2011}}</ref> In the following May, with Hanks and Berry confirmed in their roles, [[Hugo Weaving]], [[Ben Whishaw]], [[Susan Sarandon]], and [[Jim Broadbent]] also joined the cast.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugo-weaving-ben-whishaw-join-187412|title=Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw Join 'Cloud Atlas' (Cannes Exclusive)|journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=11 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lodderhose|first1=Diana|last2=Meza|first2=Ed| url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036870|title=Sarandon, Broadbent circle 'Atlas'|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=12 May 2011}}</ref> Actor [[Hugh Grant]] joined the cast days before the start of filming.<ref name="Draws">{{cite journal| last=Dawtrey|first=Adam|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042710?categoryid=13&cs=1&cmpid=RSS|title=Tykwer, Wachowskis' 'Cloud' draws crowd|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=13 September 2011}}</ref>
The film is based on the 2004 novel ''[[Cloud Atlas (novel)|Cloud Atlas]]'' by [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]]. Filmmaker [[Tom Tykwer]] revealed in January 2009 his intent to adapt the novel and said he was working on a screenplay with [[the Wachowskis]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Billington|first=Alex|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/tom-tykwer-adapting-cloud-atlas-with-wachowski-brothers|title=Tom Tykwer Adapting Cloud Atlas with Wachowski Brothers|work=First Showing|date=29 January 2009|access-date=16 September 2011|archive-date=27 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827183151/http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/tom-tykwer-adapting-cloud-atlas-with-wachowski-brothers/|url-status=live}}</ref> who optioned the novel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Keenan|first=Catherine|title=David Mitchell – Interview|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=2 April 2011}}</ref> By June 2010, Tykwer had asked actors [[Natalie Portman]], [[Tom Hanks]], [[Halle Berry]], [[James McAvoy]], and [[Ian McKellen]] to star in ''Cloud Atlas''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/cloud-atlas-aims-to-recruit-all-star-cast/176563| title='Cloud Atlas' aims to recruit all-star cast| work=[[NME]]| date=17 June 2010| access-date=16 September 2011| archive-date=22 October 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022201451/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/cloud-atlas-aims-to-recruit-all-star-cast/176563| url-status=live}}</ref> By April 2011, the Wachowskis joined Tykwer in co-directing the film.<ref name="Gathers">{{cite journal|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/cloud-atlas-gathers-with-tom-hanks-1118035354/|title='Cloud Atlas' gathers with Tom Hanks|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=12 April 2011|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=12 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212034457/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118035354/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the following May, with Hanks and Berry confirmed in their roles, [[Hugo Weaving]], [[Ben Whishaw]], [[Susan Sarandon]], and [[Jim Broadbent]] also joined the cast.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugo-weaving-ben-whishaw-join-187412|title=Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw Join 'Cloud Atlas' (Cannes Exclusive)|journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=11 May 2011|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712214750/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugo-weaving-ben-whishaw-join-187412|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lodderhose|first1=Diana|last2=Meza|first2=Ed|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/sarandon-broadbent-circle-atlas-1118036870/|title=Sarandon, Broadbent circle 'Atlas'|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=12 May 2011|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=9 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109042859/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036870|url-status=live}}</ref> Actor [[Hugh Grant]] joined the cast days before the start of filming; he was originally supposed to have only five roles, but asked the Wachowskis for a sixth one, and subsequently was also cast as Denholme Cavendish in the 2012 storyline.<ref name="Draws">{{cite journal| last=Dawtrey| first=Adam| url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/tykwer-wachowskis-cloud-draws-crowd-1118042710/| title=Tykwer, Wachowskis' 'Cloud' draws crowd| journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=13 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Hanks Collider">{{cite web |title=Hugh Grant on 'Florence Foster Jenkins', 'Cloud Atlas', the 'Paddington' Sequel and Wanting to Direct |url=https://collider.com/hugh-grant-florence-foster-jenkins-cloud-atlas-interview/#stephen-frears |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=13 December 2016 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226151959/http://collider.com/hugh-grant-florence-foster-jenkins-cloud-atlas-interview/#stephen-frears |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Berry, the character of Ovid she plays in the 2144 storyline was originally meant to be a female character played by Tom Hanks, until the directors felt that Ovid was a logical part of the journey of the soul played by Berry.<ref name="Berry Prestige">{{cite news |title=Halle Berry Interview |url=http://www.prestigeinternational-paris.com/interview/halle-berry/ |work=Prestige International Magazine |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301085643/http://www.prestigeinternational-paris.com/interview/halle-berry/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


''Cloud Atlas'' was financed by the German production companies A Company, [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] Degeto Film and X Filme. In May 2011 ''Variety'' reported that the film had a production budget of {{nowrap|$140 million}}. The filmmakers also secured approximately $20 million from the [[Politics of Germany|German government]], including {{nowrap|€10 million}} ({{nowrap|$13.5 million}}) from the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF),<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|author=von Jana Haase|url=http://www.pnn.de/potsdam/649194/ |title=Bestsellerverfilmung: "Wolkenatlas" begeistert Testpublikum|work=PNN|date=19 May 2012|accessdate=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfff-ffa.de/content_dfff/dfff_leitfaden.phtml?language=en|title=A real boost for the German film industry|publisher=DFFF|accessdate=27 November 2012}}</ref> {{nowrap|€100,000}} ({{nowrap|$130,000}}) development funding<ref name="screendaily1">{{cite web|last=Blaney|first=Martin|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/finance/cloud-atlas-awarded-the-maximum-amount-by-german-incentive-programme/5031604.article |title=Cloud Atlas awarded the maximum amount by German incentive programme|work=Screen|date=6 September 2011|accessdate=27 November 2012}}</ref> and {{nowrap|€1.5 million}} ({{nowrap|$2.15 million}}) from Medienboard [[Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region|Berlin-Brandenburg]], a German funder, as part of their plans to film at [[Studio Babelsberg]] later in 2011.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Meza|first=Ed| url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036688|title=Wachowski siblings secure coin for 'Cloud'|journal=Variety|date=10 May 2011}}</ref> The project also received {{nowrap|€1 million}} ({{nowrap|$1.5 million}}) financial support from Filmstiftung [[North Rhine-Westphalia|NRW]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/company/co0066028/|title=Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen [de]|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=27 November 2012}}</ref> {{nowrap|€750,000}} ({{nowrap|$1 million}}) from [[Central Germany (cultural area)|Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung]] and € 30 million ({{nowrap|$40 million}}) from UE-Fonds (the biggest proportion of the budget), and {{nowrap|€300,000}} ({{nowrap|$400,000}}) from FFF [[Bayern]], another German organization.<ref name="screendaily1" /> The Wachowskis contributed approximately $1 million to the project out of their own finances.<ref name="Wachowskisavclub">{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-peo,87900/|title=The Wachowskis interview |work=The A.V. Club|date=25 October 2012|accessdate=15 November 2012}}</ref> The budget was updated to {{nowrap|$100 million}}.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Horn|first=Andrew|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118039744|title=NRW backs Tykwer/Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas'|journal=Variety|date=12 July 2011 }}</ref>
It was financed by the German production companies A Company, [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] Degeto Film and X Filme. In May 2011, ''Variety'' reported that it had a production budget of {{nowrap|$140 million}}.<ref name="var-may" /> The filmmakers secured approximately $20 million from the German government, including {{nowrap|€10 million}} ({{nowrap|$11.8 million}}) from the {{ill|German Federal Film Fund|de|Deutscher Filmförderfonds}} (DFFF),<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|author=von Jana Haase|url=http://www.pnn.de/potsdam/649194/|title=Bestsellerverfilmung: "Wolkenatlas" begeistert Testpublikum|work=PNN|date=19 May 2012|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012044126/http://www.pnn.de/potsdam/649194/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfff-ffa.de/content_dfff/dfff_leitfaden.phtml?language=en|title=A real boost for the German film industry|publisher=DFFF|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125045440/http://www.dfff-ffa.de/content_dfff/dfff_leitfaden.phtml?language=en|archive-date=25 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{nowrap|€100,000}} ({{nowrap|$118,000}}) development funding<ref name="screendaily1">{{cite web|last=Blaney|first=Martin|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/finance/cloud-atlas-awarded-the-maximum-amount-by-german-incentive-programme/5031604.article|title=Cloud Atlas awarded the maximum amount by German incentive programme|work=Screen|date=6 September 2011|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-date=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201084057/http://www.screendaily.com/news/finance/cloud-atlas-awarded-the-maximum-amount-by-german-incentive-programme/5031604.article|url-status=live}}</ref> and {{nowrap|€1.5 million}} ({{nowrap|$1.8 million}}) from Medienboard [[Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region|Berlin-Brandenburg]], a German funder, as part of their plans to film at [[Studio Babelsberg]] later in 2011.<ref name="var-may">{{cite journal|last=Meza|first=Ed|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/wachowski-siblings-secure-coin-for-cloud-1118036688/|title=Wachowski siblings secure coin for 'Cloud'|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=10 May 2011|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421094505/http://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/wachowski-siblings-secure-coin-for-cloud-1118036688/|url-status=live}}</ref> The project also received {{nowrap|€1 million}} ({{nowrap|$1.2 million}}) financial support from Filmstiftung [[North Rhine-Westphalia|NRW]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0066028/|title=Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen [de]|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517090502/http://www.imdb.com/company/co0066028/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{nowrap|€750,000}} ({{nowrap|$887,000}}) from Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, €30 million ({{nowrap|$35.5 million}}) from UE-Fonds (the biggest proportion of the budget), and {{nowrap|€300,000}} ({{nowrap|$355,000}}) from FFF [[Bayern]], another German organization.<ref name="screendaily1" /> The Wachowskis contributed approximately $7 million to the project out of their own finances.<ref name="Wachowskisavclub">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-people-f-1798234238|title=The Wachowskis interview|work=The A.V. Club|date=25 October 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=17 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117082609/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-peo%2C87900/|url-status=live}}</ref> The budget was updated to {{nowrap|$100 million}}.<ref name=budget>{{cite journal|last=Horn|first=Andrew|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/nrw-backs-tykwer-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-1118039744/|title=NRW backs Tykwer/Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas'|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=12 July 2011|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421094704/http://variety.com/2011/film/news/nrw-backs-tykwer-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-1118039744/|url-status=live}}</ref>


The directors stated that due to lack of finance, the film was almost abandoned several times. However they specified how the crew was enthusiastic and determined: "They flew—even though their agents called them and said, 'They don't have the money, the money's not closed'". They specifically praised [[Tom Hanks]]' enthusiasm: "Warner Bros. calls and, through our agent, says they've looked at the math and decided that they don't like this deal. They're pulling all of the money away, rescinding the offer. I was shaking. I heard, 'Are you saying the movie is dead?' They were like, 'Yes, the movie is dead.'...&nbsp;At the end of the meeting, Tom says, 'Let's do it. I'm in. When do we start?'...&nbsp;Tom said this unabashed, enthusiastic 'Yes!' which put our heart back together. We walked away thinking, this movie is dead but somehow, it's alive and we're going to make it."<ref name="inquirer">{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/66454/three-heads-are-better-than-one|title=The Wachowskis interview|work=Inquirer|date=8 November 2012|accessdate=15 November 2012}}</ref> "Every single time, Tom Hanks was the first who said, 'I'm getting on the plane.' And then once he said he was getting on the plane, basically everyone said, 'Well, Tom's on the plane, we're on the plane.' And so everyone flew [to Berlin to begin the film]. It was like this giant [[leap of faith]]. From all over the globe."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/>
The Wachowskis stated that due to lack of financing, the film was almost abandoned several times. However, they noted how the crew was enthusiastic and determined: "They flew—even though their agents called them and said, 'They don't have the money, the money's not closed.{{'"}} They specifically praised Tom Hanks's enthusiasm: "Warner Bros. calls and, through our agent, says they've looked at the math and decided that they don't like this deal. They're pulling all of the money away, rescinding the offer. I was shaking. I heard, 'Are you saying the movie is dead?' They were like, 'Yes, the movie is dead.'&nbsp;... At the end of the meeting, Tom says, 'Let's do it. I'm in. When do we start?'&nbsp;... Tom said this unabashed, enthusiastic 'Yes!' which put our heart back together. We walked away thinking, this movie is dead but somehow, it's alive and we're going to make it."<ref name="inquirer">{{cite news|last=Nepales|first=Ruben V.|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/66454/three-heads-are-better-than-one|title=The Wachowskis interview|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=8 November 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111012727/http://entertainment.inquirer.net/66454/three-heads-are-better-than-one|url-status=live}}</ref> "Every single time, Tom Hanks was the first who said, 'I'm getting on the plane.' And then once he said he was getting on the plane, basically everyone said, 'Well, Tom's on the plane, we're on the plane.' And so everyone flew [to Berlin to begin the film]. It was like this giant leap of faith. From all over the globe."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/>

Some German journalists called it "the first attempt at a German blockbuster".<ref name="Eyes">{{cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jun/22/cloud-atlas-filmed-berlin|title=Cloud Atlas to be filmed in Berlin as city eyes starring role in movies|work=The Guardian|date=22 June 2011|location=London|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927200800/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jun/22/cloud-atlas-filmed-berlin|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Principal photography===
===Principal photography===
Some German journalists called ''Cloud Atlas'' "the first attempt at a German blockbuster" (although the 1984 fantasy ''[[The NeverEnding Story (film)|The NeverEnding Story]]'' was written about in similar terms before its release).<ref name="Eyes"/> Tykwer and the Wachowskis filmed parallel to each other using separate camera crews.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Roxborough|first=Scott| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-wachowski-brothers-tom-tykwer-225835|title=Wachowskis, Tom Tykwer Set for 'Cloud Atlas' Shoot Mid-September|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 August 2011}}</ref> The Wachowskis directed the 19th-century story and the two set in the future, while Tykwer directed the stories set in the 1930s, the 1970s, and 2012.<ref name="NewYorker">{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/10/120910fa_fact_hemon?currentPage=all|title=The Wachowskis' World beyond "The Matrix"|last=Hemon|first=Aleksandar|work=The New Yorker|date=10 September 2012|accessdate=21 January 2013}}</ref> [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] representatives argued they were happy with the film's 164-minute running time, after previously stating that it should not exceed 150 minutes.<ref name="Filmonic">[http://filmonic.com/cloud-atlas-gets-december-us-release-date-test-screenings-taking-place Cloud Atlas gets December US release date; test screenings taking place], Filmonic, 17 May 2012</ref>
Tykwer and the Wachowskis filmed parallel to each other using separate camera crews.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-wachowski-brothers-tom-tykwer-225835|title=Wachowskis, Tom Tykwer Set for 'Cloud Atlas' Shoot Mid-September|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 August 2011|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109040636/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-wachowski-brothers-tom-tykwer-225835|url-status=live}}</ref> Although all three shot scenes together when permitted by the schedule, the Wachowskis mostly directed the 1849 story and the two set in the future, while Tykwer directed the stories set in 1936, 1973, and 2012.<ref name="NewYorker">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/10/120910fa_fact_hemon?currentPage=all|title=The Wachowskis' World beyond "The Matrix"|last=Hemon|first=Aleksandar|magazine=The New Yorker|date=10 September 2012|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-date=5 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905065827/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/10/120910fa_fact_hemon?currentPage=all|url-status=live}}</ref> Tykwer said that the three directors planned every segment of the film together in pre-production, and continued to work closely together through post-production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefilmstage.com/news/new-one-minute-cloud-atlas-spot-brings-back-m83-filmmakers-shed-light-on-dga-struggles/|title=New One-Minute 'Cloud Atlas' Spot Brings Back M83; Filmmakers Shed Light on DGA Struggles|date=8 October 2012|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-date=15 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115080817/http://thefilmstage.com/news/new-one-minute-cloud-atlas-spot-brings-back-m83-filmmakers-shed-light-on-dga-struggles/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] representatives agreed to the film's 172-minute running time, after previously stating that it should not exceed 150 minutes.<ref name="Filmonic">[http://filmonic.com/cloud-atlas-gets-december-us-release-date-test-screenings-taking-place Cloud Atlas gets December US release date; test screenings taking place] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728032310/http://filmonic.com/cloud-atlas-gets-december-us-release-date-test-screenings-taking-place |date=28 July 2012 }}, Filmonic, 17 May 2012</ref>


Filming began at [[Studio Babelsberg]] in [[Potsdam-Babelsberg]], Germany, on {{nowrap|16 September}} 2011, which was the base camp for the production during its shoot.<ref name="thelocationguide.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2012/10/glasgow-doubles-for-san-francisco-and-london-in-epic-cloud-atlas-shoot/|title=Glasgow doubles for San Francisco and London in epic Cloud Atlas shoot|date=25 October 2012}}</ref> Other locations include [[Düsseldorf]],<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/locations |title=Cloud Atlas (2012) - Filming locations|work=IMDb|accessdate=27 November 2012}}</ref> in and near [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-film-locations.com/Cloud-Atlas-2012|title=Cloud Atlas 2012|work=British Film Locations|accessdate=19 February 2013}}</ref> and the [[Mediterranean]] island of [[Majorca]], [[Spain]].<ref name="Draws"/> Glasgow doubled for both San Francisco and London.<ref name="thelocationguide.com"/> Scenes filmed in Scotland also feature the recently built [[Clackmannanshire Bridge]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Hutchinson|first=Hamish|url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/08/30/434538-countys-bridge-to-tinseltown/|title=County's bridge to Tinseltown|work=Alloa Advertiser|date=30 August 2012|accessdate=30 August 2012 }}</ref> near [[Alloa]]. The "Big Island" and "Pacific Islands" stories were actually shot on [[Majorca]], mostly in the [[UNESCO World Heritage Site|World Heritage site]] of the [[Serra de Tramuntana|Serra de Tramuntana mountains]]. Scenes were shot at [[Cala Tuent]] and near [[Formentor]], amongst others.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The opening scene of the film, when Adam Ewing meets Dr. Henry Goose, was filmed at [[Escorca|Sa Calobra]]. [[Sóller|Port de Sóller]] provided the setting for the scene when the 19th-century ship is mooring.<ref>[http://ultimahora.es/mallorca/noticia/noticias/cultura/primeras-imagenes-cloud-atlas-rodada-mallorca.html UH Noticias - Primeras imágenes de la película Cloud Atlas]</ref>
Filming began at [[Studio Babelsberg]] in [[Potsdam-Babelsberg]], Germany, on {{nowrap|16 September}} 2011, the base camp for the production.<ref name="thelocationguide.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2012/10/glasgow-doubles-for-san-francisco-and-london-in-epic-cloud-atlas-shoot/|title=Glasgow doubles for San Francisco and London in epic Cloud Atlas shoot|date=25 October 2012|access-date=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020214515/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2012/10/glasgow-doubles-for-san-francisco-and-london-in-epic-cloud-atlas-shoot/|archive-date=20 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other German locations include the city of [[Düsseldorf]] and the [[Saxon Switzerland]] landscape,<ref name="Wochenkurier">{{cite web|url=https://www.wochenkurier.info/sachsen/saechsische-schweiz-osterzgebirge/artikel/hollywood-gruesst-aus-dem-elbtal-3411|title=Hollywood grüßt aus dem Elbtal|work=Wochenkurier|access-date=29 September 2020|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418174245/https://www.wochenkurier.info/sachsen/saechsische-schweiz-osterzgebirge/artikel/hollywood-gruesst-aus-dem-elbtal-3411|url-status=dead}}</ref> furthermore sets<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/locations|title=Cloud Atlas (2012) - Filming locations|work=IMDb|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-date=1 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101024526/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/locations|url-status=live}}</ref> in and near Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-film-locations.com/Cloud-Atlas-2012|title=Cloud Atlas 2012|work=British Film Locations|access-date=19 February 2013|archive-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218210546/http://www.british-film-locations.com/Cloud-Atlas-2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Mediterranean island of [[Majorca]], Spain.<ref name="Draws"/> Glasgow doubled for both San Francisco and London.<ref name="thelocationguide.com"/> Scenes filmed in Scotland feature the new [[Clackmannanshire Bridge]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Hutchinson|first=Hamish|url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/08/30/434538-countys-bridge-to-tinseltown/|title=County's bridge to Tinseltown|work=Alloa Advertiser|date=30 August 2012|access-date=30 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928152914/http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/08/30/434538-countys-bridge-to-tinseltown/|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> near [[Alloa]]. The "Big Island" and "Pacific Islands" stories were shot on Majorca, mostly in the [[UNESCO World Heritage Site|World Heritage site]] of the [[Serra de Tramuntana]] mountains. Scenes were shot at [[Cala Tuent]] and near [[Formentor]], amongst others.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The opening scene, when Adam Ewing meets Dr. Henry Goose, was filmed at [[Sa Calobra]] beach. [[Sóller|Port de Sóller]] provided the setting for the scene when the 19th-century ship is mooring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimahora.es/mallorca/noticia/noticias/cultura/primeras-imagenes-cloud-atlas-rodada-mallorca.html|title=Primeras imágenes de la película 'Cloud Atlas', rodada en Mallorca|date=26 July 2012|access-date=23 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729105411/http://ultimahora.es/mallorca/noticia/noticias/cultura/primeras-imagenes-cloud-atlas-rodada-mallorca.html|archive-date=29 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The film was meant to be shot in chronological order; however, Berry broke her foot two days before she was supposed to start filming. Instead of replacing her, the Wachowskis and Tykwer heavily changed the initial filming schedule; Berry stated that "it involved travelling back and forth to Majorca and then Germany then we had to go back to Majorca when my foot got a little bit better and we were able to shoot some of that stuff on the mountainside when I could climb a little bit better. It was all over the place."<ref name="Berry Viva Press">{{cite news |title=Halle Berry Interview – Cloud Atlas – 'As a teenager, I was so driven to pursue my dreams that I made a decision to quit school at 17&nbsp;...' |url=http://www.viva-press.com/uncategorized/halle-berry-interview-cloud-atlas-as-a-teenager-i-was-so-driven-to-pursue-my-dreams-that-i-made-a-decision-to-quit-school-at-17/ |publisher=Viva Press |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226151952/http://www.viva-press.com/uncategorized/halle-berry-interview-cloud-atlas-as-a-teenager-i-was-so-driven-to-pursue-my-dreams-that-i-made-a-decision-to-quit-school-at-17/ |archive-date=26 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to her, "Tom [Hanks] would play nurse to me. He really took care of me. He would bring me coffee and soup and just stay with me during breaks in shooting because it was difficult for me to move around, especially at the beginning&nbsp;... I basically had to be helped back to my chair after every take, but you learn to adapt to the situation. But with Tom at my side, I was really able to go beyond my own expectations of what I was capable of as an actress."<ref name="Berry Viva Press"/>
==Music==
The original orchestral soundtrack was composed by director [[Tom Tykwer]] and his longtime collaborators, [[Reinhold Heil]] and [[Johnny Klimek]]. The trio have worked together for years as Pale 3, having composed music for several films directed by Tykwer, most notably ''[[Run Lola Run]]'', ''[[The Princess and the Warrior]]'', ''[[Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (film)|Perfume: The Story of a Murderer]]'', and ''[[The International (2009 film)|The International]]'', and contributed music to the Wachowskis' ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]''. Work on the score for ''Cloud Atlas'' began months before shooting commenced on the film. The music was recorded in [[Leipzig, Germany]] with the MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Radio Chorus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/18/cloud-atlas-score-tom-tykwer/|title='Cloud Atlas' score co-composed by director Tom Tykwer|work=Entertainment Weekly|author=Schou, Solvej|accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref>


==Music==
The soundtrack received universal critical acclaim. Film Music Magazine critic Daniel Schweiger described the soundtrack as "a singular piece of multi-themed astonishment&nbsp;... Yet instead of defining one sound for every era, Klimek, Heil and Tykwer seamlessly merge their motifs across the ages to give ''Cloud Atlas'' its rhythms, blending orchestra, pulsating electronics, choruses and a soaring salute to [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]] in an astonishing, captivating score that eventually becomes all things for all personages&nbsp;..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=10158|title=On the Score with Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil and Tom Tykwer|work=Film Music Magazine|author=Schweiger, Daniel|accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> Erin Willard of ScifiMafia described the soundtrack as "cinematic, symphonic, and simply, utterly, exquisitely beautiful&nbsp;... in the wrong hands the opening theme, which is picked up periodically throughout the entire soundtrack, could easily have become cloying or twee or sappy, but happily this hazard was avoided entirely."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scifimafia.com/2012/11/soundtrack-review-cloud-atlas-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/|title=Soundtrack Review: Cloud Atlas Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|publisher=SciFi Mafia|author=Willard, Erin|accessdate=7 November 2012}}</ref> Jon Broxton of Movie Music UK wrote, "Scores like ''Cloud Atlas'', which have an important and identifiable structure that relates directly to concepts in the film, intelligent and sophisticated application of thematic elements, and no small amount of beauty, harmony and excitement in the music itself, reaffirm your faith in what film music can be when it's done right." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://moviemusicuk.us/2012/10/29/cloud-atlas-tom-tykwer-johnny-klimek-and-reinhold-heil/|title=CLOUD ATLAS – Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil|publisher=Movie Music UK|author=Broxton, Jon|accessdate=29 October 2012}}</ref> Daniel Schweiger selected the score as one of the best soundtracks of 2012, writing that "''Cloud Atlas'' is an immense sum total of not only the human experience, but of mankind's capacity for musical self-realization itself, all as embodied in a theme for the ages."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=10439|title=The Best Scores of 2012|work=Film Music Magazine|author=Schweiger, Daniel|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> The film's soundtrack was nominated for a 2013 [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]], and for several awards by the [[International Film Music Critics Association]], including Score of the Year.
{{Main|Cloud Atlas (soundtrack)}}

Besides directing the film, Tykwer co-composed the score with his longtime collaborators, [[Reinhold Heil]] and [[Johnny Klimek]]. The trio worked together for years as Pale 3, composing music for several films directed by Tykwer, most notably ''[[Run Lola Run]]'', ''[[The Princess and the Warrior]]'', ''[[Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (film)|Perfume: The Story of a Murderer]]'', and ''[[The International (2009 film)|The International]]''. The score was recorded in [[Leipzig]], Germany with the [[MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[MDR Rundfunkchor|Leipzig Radio Chorus]], and [[Gene Pritsker]] orchestrated the score.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/18/cloud-atlas-score-tom-tykwer/|title='Cloud Atlas' score co-composed by director Tom Tykwer|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Schou, Solvej|access-date=3 November 2012|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020232827/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/18/cloud-atlas-score-tom-tykwer/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Pritsker, Gene (2014): Composing Cloud Atlas Symphony. In: Stoppe, Sebastian (ed.), Film in Concert: Film Scores and their Relation to Classical Concert Music, pp. 145–160. ISBN 9783864880605. [[doi:10.25969/mediarep/16802]]</ref> [[WaterTower Music]] released the soundtrack album via digital download on 23 October 2012 and CD on 13 November 2012.
The film contains approximately two hours of original music. [[WaterTower Music]] released the soundtrack album via digital download on 23 October 2012 and the physical CD on 6 November 2012.


==Release==
==Release==
The film premiered at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival]], whereupon it received a 10-minute [[standing ovation]].<ref name="LAtimes"/><ref name="dailybeast"/><ref name="insidemovies">{{cite web|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/09/toronto-film-festival-cloud-atlas-premiere-with-halle-berry-tom-hanks-wows-crowd-cast-directors-get-standing-ovation/|title=Toronto Film Festival: ''Cloud Atlas'' premiere lands an emotional standing ovation for cast, including Halle Berry, Tom Hanks|work=Inside Movies|accessdate=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012}}</ref>
The film premiered at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival]], where it received a 10-minute standing ovation.<ref name="LAtimes"/><ref name="dailybeast"/><ref name="insidemovies">{{cite web|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/09/toronto-film-festival-cloud-atlas-premiere-with-halle-berry-tom-hanks-wows-crowd-cast-directors-get-standing-ovation/|title=Toronto Film Festival: ''Cloud Atlas'' premiere lands an emotional standing ovation for cast, including Halle Berry, Tom Hanks|work=Inside Movies|access-date=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012|archive-date=15 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015093338/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/09/toronto-film-festival-cloud-atlas-premiere-with-halle-berry-tom-hanks-wows-crowd-cast-directors-get-standing-ovation/|url-status=live}}</ref>


''Cloud Atlas'' was released on 26 October 2012 in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Yaniz|first=Robert|title='Cloud Atlas' Release Date Bumped Up to October|url=http://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-release-date-october-ryanz-180892|journal=Screen Rant|accessdate=29 June 2012|date=19 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=International Film Guide 2012|first=Ian Hayden |last=Smith|year=2012|isbn=978-1-908215-01-7|page=126}}</ref> [[Warner Bros.]] distributed the film in the United States and Canada, and [[Focus Features|Focus Features International]] handled sales and distribution for other territories.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/wb-focus-international-distribute-cloud-177479|title=WB and Focus International to Distribute 'Cloud Atlas,' Starring Tom Hanks|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 April 2011}}</ref> The movie was released in cinemas in China on 31 January 2013 with 39 minutes of cuts, including removal of nudity, a sexual scene, and numerous conversations.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jI6OHUn3NrQ2fXGUHRHmRMxeophg?docId=CNG.2397ebfda38514fd897ed40bd84da542.751|title=AFP newswire, "China censors slash 'Cloud Atlas' by 40 minutes"|date=23 January 2013}}</ref>
It was released on 26 October 2012 in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Yaniz|first=Robert|title='Cloud Atlas' Release Date Bumped Up to October|url=https://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-release-date-october-ryanz-180892|journal=Screen Rant|access-date=29 June 2012|date=19 June 2012|archive-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622185118/http://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-release-date-october-ryanz-180892/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=International Film Guide 2012|first=Ian Hayden |last=Smith|year=2012|isbn=978-1-908215-01-7|page=126|publisher=International Film Guide }}</ref> [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] distributed it in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and [[Focus Features]] International handled sales for other territories.<ref name="thr">{{cite journal|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/wb-focus-international-distribute-cloud-177479|title=WB and Focus International to Distribute 'Cloud Atlas,' Starring Tom Hanks|journal=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 April 2011|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009043009/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/wb-focus-international-distribute-cloud-177479|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Wachowskis, [[Summit Entertainment]], who previously worked with Tykwer on ''[[Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (film)|Perfume: The Story of a Murderer]]'', was originally going to distribute it internationally, but ultimately rejected it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/oscars-qa-wachowskis-and-tykwer-374132/ |title=OSCARS Q&A: Wachowskis And Tykwer |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2012-11-23 |access-date=2012-11-23 |archive-date=20 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920064919/http://deadline.com/2012/11/oscars-qa-wachowskis-and-tykwer-374132/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
It was released in cinemas in China on 31 January 2013 with 39 minutes of cuts, including removal of nudity, a sexual scene, and numerous conversations.<ref>{{citation |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/news/china-censors-slash-cloud-atlas-40-minutes-082706688.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205005100/https://sg.style.yahoo.com/news/china-censors-slash-cloud-atlas-40-minutes-082706688.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 February 2019|title=AFP newswire, "China censors slash 'Cloud Atlas' by 40 minutes"|date=23 January 2013}}</ref>


===Marketing===
===Marketing===
A six-minute [[film preview|trailer]] for ''Cloud Atlas'', accompanied by a short introduction by the three directors describing the ideas behind the creation of the film, was released on {{nowrap|26 July}} 2012.<ref>{{cite news|author=Matt Goldberg|url=http://collider.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/183689/|title=Extended Trailer, Directors' Commentary, and Poster for Tom Tykwer and The Wachowskis' CLOUD ATLAS| date=26 July 2012|accessdate=7 August 2012 }}</ref> A shorter official trailer was released on 7 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sandy Schaefer|url=http://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/|title=Official Trailer for the Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas': Shorter But Still Stunning|date=7 September 2012|accessdate=7 September 2012 }}</ref> The six-minute trailer includes three pieces of music. The opening piano music is the main theme of the soundtrack (''Prelude: The Atlas March/The Cloud Atlas Sextet'') by composing trio [[Tom Tykwer]], [[Johnny Klimek]] and [[Reinhold Heil]], followed by an instrumental version of the song "Sonera" from [[Thomas J. Bergersen]]'s album ''[[Illusions (Thomas Bergersen album)|Illusions]]''. The song in the last part is "Outro" from [[M83 (band)|M83]]'s album ''[[Hurry Up, We're Dreaming]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgI6EeYbV84|title=Cloud Atlas Official Trailer|publisher=[[Youtube]]|accessdate=8 August 2012}}</ref>
A six-minute trailer, accompanied by a short introduction by the three directors describing the ideas behind the creation of the film, was released on {{nowrap|26 July}} 2012.<ref>{{cite news |author=Matt Goldberg |url=https://collider.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/183689/ |title=Extended Trailer, Directors' Commentary, and Poster for Tom Tykwer and The Wachowskis' CLOUD ATLAS |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=7 August 2012 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728230525/http://collider.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/183689/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A shorter official trailer was released on 7 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sandy Schaefer|url=https://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/|title=Official Trailer for the Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas': Shorter But Still Stunning|date=7 September 2012|access-date=7 September 2012|archive-date=8 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908051918/http://screenrant.com/cloud-atlas-movie-trailer/|url-status=live}}</ref> The six-minute trailer includes three pieces of music. The opening piano music is the main theme of the soundtrack (''Prelude: The Atlas March/The Cloud Atlas Sextet'') by composing trio [[Tom Tykwer]], Johnny Klimek, and [[Reinhold Heil]], followed by an instrumental version of the song "Sonera" from [[Thomas J. Bergersen]]'s album ''[[Illusions (Thomas Bergersen album)|Illusions]]''. The song in the last part is "[[Outro (M83 song)|Outro]]" from [[M83 (band)|M83]]'s album ''[[Hurry Up, We're Dreaming]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgI6EeYbV84 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/KgI6EeYbV84| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Cloud Atlas Official Trailer | date=27 July 2012|publisher=YouTube |access-date=8 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


===Home media===
===Home media===
The film was released on 14 May 2013, on home media ([[Blu-ray]], [[DVD]] and [[UltraViolet (system)|UV Digital Copy]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Cloud Atlas Blu-Ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10515|work=Blu-Ray|accessdate=20 February 2013}}</ref>
The film was released on home media ([[Blu-ray]], DVD and [[UltraViolet (system)|UV Digital Copy]]) on May 14, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cloud Atlas Blu-Ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10515|work=Blu-Ray|access-date=20 February 2013|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422192119/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10515|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==


===Critical response===
===Critical response===
The film has had polarized reactions from critics, who debated its length and editing of the interwoven stories, but praised other aspects of the film such as its cinematography, score, visual style, [[ensemble cast]], and originality. The film received a lengthy standing ovation at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival|37th Toronto International Film Festival]], where it premiered on 9 September 2012 .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/toronto-2012-cloud-atlas-tom-hanks-halle-berry-jim-broadbent-wachowski-tom-tykwer-368925|title=Cloud Atlas gets lengthy ovation, but are Oscars on the cards|work=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=29 December 2012}}</ref> Review aggregator [[Metacritic]] collected the "top 10 films of 2012" lists from various critics and ''Cloud Atlas'' was placed at number 25 overall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/feature/top-ten-lists-best-movies-of-2012|title=2012 Film Critic Top Ten Lists|accessdate=8 January 2013}}</ref>
The film garnered divided reactions by both critics and audiences, with many debating its length and editing of the interwoven stories, but praising other aspects such as the cinematography, score, visual style, ensemble cast, and ambition. The film received a lengthy standing ovation at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival|37th Toronto International Film Festival]], where it premiered on 9 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/toronto-2012-cloud-atlas-tom-hanks-halle-berry-jim-broadbent-wachowski-tom-tykwer-368925|title=Cloud Atlas gets lengthy ovation, but are Oscars on the cards|work=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=29 December 2012|first=Scott|last=Feinberg|date=9 September 2012|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012043719/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/toronto-2012-cloud-atlas-tom-hanks-halle-berry-jim-broadbent-wachowski-tom-tykwer-368925|url-status=live}}</ref>


Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 66% of critics have given ''Cloud Atlas'' a "Fresh" rating based on 250 reviews, with an average of 6.6/10. The site's consensus from the collected reviews was "Its sprawling, ambitious blend of thought-provoking narrative and eye-catching visuals will prove too unwieldy for some, but the sheer size and scope of ''Cloud Atlas'' are all but impossible to ignore."<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloud_atlas_2012/#top-critics-numbers|title=Cloud Atlas (2012)|accessdate=27 October 2012}}</ref> The film currently holds a [[Metacritic]] score of 55 out of 100, based on 45 reviews, indicating 'mixed to average' reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/cloud-atlas|title=Cloud Atlas Review|work=Metacritic|accessdate=25 October 2012}}</ref>
According to review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 66% of 293 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critics' consensus is that "Its sprawling, ambitious blend of thought-provoking narrative and eye-catching visuals will prove too unwieldy for some, but the sheer size and scope of ''Cloud Atlas'' are all but impossible to ignore."<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloud_atlas_2012/#top-critics-numbers|title=Cloud Atlas (2012)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=10 November 2022|archive-date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025200124/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloud_atlas_2012/#top-critics-numbers|url-status=live}}</ref> Review aggregator [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/cloud-atlas|title=Cloud Atlas Review|work=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=25 October 2012|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026031913/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/cloud-atlas|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the website, the film appeared on 14 critics' top 10 lists for 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/top-ten-lists-best-movies-of-2012|title=2012 Film Critic Top Ten Lists|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=8 January 2013|archive-date=11 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511074641/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/top-ten-lists-best-movies-of-2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='SpongeBob' Counts $55.4M Treasure; 'Jupiter' Down, 'Son' Up In Monday B.O. Actuals |url=https://deadline.com/2015/02/spongebob-squarepants-box-office-jupiter-ascending-seventh-son-1201366190/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=May 3, 2022 |date=February 9, 2015 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503171633/https://deadline.com/2015/02/spongebob-squarepants-box-office-jupiter-ascending-seventh-son-1201366190/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] praised the film for being "one of the most ambitious films ever made", awarding the film four out of four stars. He wrote "Even as I was watching ''Cloud Atlas'' the first time, I knew I would need to see it again. Now that I've seen it the second time, I know I'd like to see it a third time&nbsp;... I think you will want to see this daring and visionary film&nbsp;... I was never, ever bored by ''Cloud Atlas''. On my second viewing, I gave up any attempt to work out the logical connections between the segments, stories and characters."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121024/REVIEWS/121029991|title=Roger Ebert Cloud Atlas Review|work=Chicago-Sun Times|accessdate=25 October 2012}}</ref> He later listed the film among his best of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/12/eberts_top_movies_of_2012.html |title=Ebert's Top Movies of 2012|date=27 December 2012|deadurl=no|accessdate=21 January 2013}}</ref>
Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film four out of four stars and ranked the film among his best of the year: "One of the most ambitious films ever made&nbsp;... Even as I was watching ''Cloud Atlas'' the first time, I knew I would need to see it again. Now that I've seen it the second time, I know I'd like to see it a third time&nbsp;... I think you will want to see this daring and visionary film&nbsp;... I was never, ever bored by ''Cloud Atlas''. On my second viewing, I gave up any attempt to work out the logical connections between the segments, stories and characters".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cloud-atlas-2012|title=Roger Ebert Cloud Atlas Review|work=rogerebert.com|access-date=11 April 2021|date=24 October 2012|archive-date=26 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326202130/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cloud-atlas-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, ''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Calum Marsh called it a "unique and totally unparalleled disaster" and said "[its] badness is fundamental, an essential aspect of the concept and its execution that I suspect is impossible to remedy or rectify."<ref name="slantmagazine">{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2012/09/toronto-international-film-festival-2012-cloud-atlas/|title=Toronto Film Festival: ''Cloud Atlas'' premiere lands an emotional standing ovation for cast, including Halle Berry, Tom Hanks|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012|archive-date=12 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912014133/http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2012/09/toronto-international-film-festival-2012-cloud-atlas/|url-status=live}}</ref> Henry Barnes writing in ''[[The Guardian]]'' said that "At 172 minutes, ''Cloud Atlas'' carries all the marks of a giant folly, and those unfamiliar with the book will be baffled"; he gave the film two out of five stars.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/09/cloud-atlas-review-toronto|title=Cloud Atlas - review|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012|location=London|first=Henry|last=Barnes|archive-date=7 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007003629/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/09/cloud-atlas-review-toronto|url-status=live}}</ref>


Nick Pickerton, who reviewed the film for ''[[The Village Voice]]'', said, "There is a great deal of humbug about art and love in ''Cloud Atlas'', but it is decidedly unlovable, and if you want to learn something about feeling, you're at the wrong movie."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-10-24/film/cloud-atlas-film-review/|title=Cloud Atlas Review|work=Village Voice|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-date=27 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227180248/http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-10-24/film/cloud-atlas-film-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Film critic [[Mark Kermode]] on his first viewing called it "an extremely honourable failure, but a failure", but then on a second viewing for the release of the DVD in the UK stated, "Second time around, I find it to be more engaging – still not an overall success, but containing several moments of genuine magic, and buoyed up by the exuberance of high-vaulting ambition."<ref name="BBC5Live">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVfpRLfWOc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/AKVfpRLfWOc| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Cloud Atlas reviewed by Mark Kermode|work=[[BBC Radio 5 Live]]|access-date=1 March 2013|date=1 March 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/30/mark-kermode-dvd-round-up|title=Cloud Atlas reviewed by Mark Kermode|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 June 2013|date=30 June 2013|location=London|archive-date=26 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526000150/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/30/mark-kermode-dvd-round-up|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Village Voice'' and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine both named ''Cloud Atlas'' the worst film of 2012.<ref name="Indiwire">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/village-voice-names-the-master-best-film-of-2012-cloud-atlas-the-worst-film-of-2012-20121227|title=Village Voice Names 'Cloud Atlas' The Worst Film of 2012|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=3 January 2013|date=27 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503133056/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/village-voice-names-the-master-best-film-of-2012-cloud-atlas-the-worst-film-of-2012-20121227|archive-date=3 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' described it as "an intense three-hour mental workout rewarded with a big emotional payoff.&nbsp;... One's attention must be engaged at all times as the mosaic triggers an infinite range of potentially profound personal responses."<ref name="variety">{{cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117948250/|work=Variety|title=Cloud Atlas - Toronto Film Fest Reviews|author=Debruge, Peter|accessdate=29 October 2012|date=8 September 2012}}</ref> James Rocchi of ''[[MSN|MSN Movies]]'' stated "It is so full of passion and heart and empathy that it feels completely unlike any other modern film in its range either measured through scope of budget or sweep of action."<ref name="MSN">{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/the-hitlist-blogpost.aspx?post=f6291502-498b-4389-ae7c-e3dd345692a4|title=TIFF Review: 'Cloud Atlas'|work=MSN Movies|accessdate=11 September 2012}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' called ''Cloud Atlas'' "one of the year's most important movies".<ref name="dailybeast">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/09/the-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-wows-toronto-international-film-festival.html|title=The Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas' Wows Toronto International Film Festival|work=Daily Beast|accessdate=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012}}</ref> [[Michael Cieply]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commented on the film "You will have to decide for yourself whether it works. It's that kind of picture.&nbsp;... Is this the stuff of Oscars? Who knows? Is it a force to be reckoned with in the coming months? Absolutely."<ref name="NYtimes">{{cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/toronto-gets-a-look-at-cloud-atlas/|title=Toronto Gets a Look at Cloud Atlas|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 11, 2012|date=8 September 2012}}</ref>


''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' described it as "an intense three-hour mental workout rewarded with a big emotional payoff.&nbsp;... One's attention must be engaged at all times as the mosaic triggers an infinite range of potentially profound personal responses."<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117948250/|work=Variety|title=Cloud Atlas - Toronto Film Fest Reviews|author=Debruge, Peter|access-date=29 October 2012|date=8 September 2012|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020075904/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117948250/|url-status=live}}</ref> James Rocchi of ''[[MSN]] Movies'' stated, "It is so full of passion and heart and empathy that it feels completely unlike any other modern film in its range either measured through scope of budget or sweep of action."<ref name="MSN">{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/the-hitlist-blogpost.aspx?post=f6291502-498b-4389-ae7c-e3dd345692a4|title=TIFF Review: 'Cloud Atlas'|work=MSN Movies|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531124905/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/the-hitlist-blogpost.aspx?post=f6291502-498b-4389-ae7c-e3dd345692a4|archive-date=31 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' called ''Cloud Atlas'' "one of the year's most important movies".<ref name="dailybeast">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/09/the-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-wows-toronto-international-film-festival.html|title=The Wachowskis' 'Cloud Atlas' Wows Toronto International Film Festival|work=Daily Beast|access-date=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012|archive-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911000017/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/09/the-wachowskis-cloud-atlas-wows-toronto-international-film-festival.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Michael Cieply]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commented on the film, "You will have to decide for yourself whether it works. It's that kind of picture.&nbsp;... Is this the stuff of Oscars? Who knows? Is it a force to be reckoned with in the coming months? Absolutely."<ref name="NYtimes">{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/toronto-gets-a-look-at-cloud-atlas/|title=Toronto Gets a Look at Cloud Atlas|work=The New York Times|access-date=11 September 2012|date=8 September 2012|first=Michael|last=Cieply|archive-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911062611/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/toronto-gets-a-look-at-cloud-atlas/|url-status=live}}</ref>
''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Calum Marsh called ''Cloud Atlas'' a "unique and totally unparalleled disaster" and commented "[its] badness is fundamental, an essential aspect of the concept and its execution that I suspect is impossible to remedy or rectify".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2012/09/toronto-international-film-festival-2012-cloud-atlas/|title=Toronto Film Festival: ''Cloud Atlas'' premiere lands an emotional standing ovation for cast, including Halle Berry, Tom Hanks|work=Slant Magazine|accessdate=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' stated "At 163 minutes, ''Cloud Atlas'' carries all the marks of a giant folly, and those unfamiliar with the book will be baffled" and awarded the film 2 out of 5 stars.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/sep/09/cloud-atlas-review-toronto|title=Cloud Atlas - review|work=The Guardian|accessdate=11 September 2012|date=9 September 2012}}</ref> Nick Pickerton, who reviewed the film for ''[[The Village Voice]]'' said "There is a great deal of humbug about art and love in ''Cloud Atlas'', but it is decidedly unlovable, and if you want to learn something about feeling, you're at the wrong movie."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-10-24/film/cloud-atlas-film-review/|title=Cloud Atlas Review|work=Village Voice|accessdate=29 December 2012}}</ref> English critic [[Mark Kermode]] on his first viewing called it "an extremely honourable failure, but a failure" but then on a second viewing for the release of the DVD in the UK stated "Second time around, I find it to be more engaging – still not an overall success, but containing several moments of genuine magic, and buoyed up by the exuberance of high-vaulting ambition."<ref name="BBC5Live">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVfpRLfWOc|title=Cloud Atlas reviewed by Mark Kermode|work=[[BBC Radio 5 Live]]|accessdate=1 March 2013|date=1 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/jun/30/mark-kermode-dvd-round-up|title=Cloud Atlas reviewed by Mark Kermode|work=The Guardian|accessdate=30 June 2013|date=30 June 2013}}</ref>''Village Voice'' and ''[[Time Magazine]]'' both named ''Cloud Atlas'' the worst film of 2012.<ref name="Indiwire">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/village-voice-names-the-master-best-film-of-2012-cloud-atlas-the-worst-film-of-2012-20121227|title=Village Voice Names 'Cloud Atlas' The Worst Film of 2012|work=IndiWire|accessdate=3 January 2013|date=27 December 2012}}</ref>


===Reaction from the crew===
===Box office===
Despite expectations that the film could be a success,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/cloud-atlas-set-to-smash-box-office-records_1379026 |title='Cloud Atlas' Set to Smash Box Office Records? |magazine=[[Contactmusic.com]] |date=31 July 2012 |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052210/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/cloud-atlas-set-to-smash-box-office-records_1379026 |url-status=live }}</ref> the film opened to $9.6 million from 2,008 theaters, an average of $4,787 per theater, finishing second at the U.S. box office. The debut was described as "dreadful" by [[Box Office Mojo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3554&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: 'Argo' Ahead of Four Dreadful Debuts |website=Box Office Mojo |date=28 October 2012 |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221001143/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3554&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The film ultimately grossed $27.1 million in the U.S. and $103.4 million internationally for a total of $130.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm |title=Cloud Atlas (2012) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=28 July 2014 |archive-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824204959/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Reaction from the crew===
====Directors====
====Directors====
On 25 October (after the premiere at Toronto), Andy Wachowski stated "(a)s soon as (critics) encounter a piece of art they don't fully understand the first time going through it, they think it's the fault of the movie or the work of art. They think, 'It's a mess&nbsp;... This doesn't make any sense.' And they reject it, just out of an almost knee-jerk response to some ambiguity or some gulf between what they expect they should be able to understand, and what they understand."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/>
On 25 October 2012, after the premiere at Toronto (and despite the standing ovation it received there), Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}} stated as "soon as [critics] encounter a piece of art they don't fully understand the first time going through it, they think it's the fault of the movie or the work of art. They think, 'It's a mess&nbsp;... This doesn't make any sense.' And they reject it, just out of an almost knee-jerk response to some ambiguity or some gulf between what they expect they should be able to understand, and what they understand."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/><ref name="Wachoskisavclub2">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-people-f-1798234238|title=The Wachowskis interview (page 2)|work=The A.V. Club|date=25 October 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229103559/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-peo%2C87900/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the same interview, Lana Wachowski said people "will try to will ''Cloud Atlas'' to be rejected. They will call it messy, or complicated, or undecided whether it's trying to say something New Agey-profound or not. And we're wrestling with the same things that [[Charles Dickens|Dickens]] and [[Victor Hugo|Hugo]] and David Mitchell and [[Herman Melville]] were wrestling with. We're wrestling with those same ideas, and we're just trying to do it in a more exciting context than conventionally you are allowed to.&nbsp;... We don't want to say, 'We are making this to mean this.' What we find is that the most interesting art is open to a spectrum of interpretation."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/><ref name="Wachoskisavclub2"/>

==== Cast ====
Tom Hanks has come to praise ''Cloud Atlas'' strongly in the years since its release.<ref name="Hanks Uproxx">{{cite news |title=Tom Hanks says 'Cloud Atlas' rewired him for 'Saving Mr. Banks' and 'Captain Phillips' |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/tom-hanks-says-cloud-atlas-rewired-him-for-saving-mr-banks-and-captain-phillips/ |website=[[Uproxx]] |date=20 November 2013 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226152011/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/tom-hanks-says-cloud-atlas-rewired-him-for-saving-mr-banks-and-captain-phillips/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, he stated "I've seen it three times now and discovered, I swear to God, different, profound things with each viewing."<ref name="Hanks Metro">{{cite news|title=Tom Hanks: The karma in Cloud Atlas is baloney|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/22/tom-hanks-the-karma-in-cloud-atlas-is-baloney-3508613/|website=[[Metro (website)|Metro]]|date=22 February 2013|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=26 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211554/http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/22/tom-hanks-the-karma-in-cloud-atlas-is-baloney-3508613/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2017 interview, he called it "a movie that altered my entire consciousness," saying, "it's the only movie I've been in that I've seen more than twice."<ref name="Hanks Collider"/><ref name="Hanks Radio Times">{{cite news |title=Tom Hanks: A lot of my films don't make sense |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2017-10-14/tom-hanks-a-lot-of-my-films-dont-make-sense/ |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=14 October 2017 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211718/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2017-10-14/tom-hanks-a-lot-of-my-films-dont-make-sense/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Halle Berry said in an interview, "It would be impossible to explain what I really feel or think about the film. It exists on so many different levels.&nbsp;... I love the totality of all the characters."<ref name="Berry Viva Press"/><ref name="Berry Prestige"/> She talked about playing characters belonging to other ethnicities, and playing a male: "This is so poignant for an actor and someone like me, to be able to shed my skin&nbsp;... you know, to do something that I would have never been able to do. If it were not for this kind of project, I still wouldn't have done that."<ref name="Berry Prestige"/>

In a 2017 interview, Jim Broadbent called the film "great to do" and "fantastic".<ref name="Broadbent Screen Crush">{{cite news |title=Jim Broadbent Looks Back On His Quirky Roles, 'Harry Potter,' and Whether He'd Return for 'Indiana Jones 5' |url=https://screencrush.com/jim-broadbent-interview-sense-of-an-ending/ |website=[[Townsquare Media|Screen Crush]] |date=7 March 2017 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115155459/https://screencrush.com/jim-broadbent-interview-sense-of-an-ending/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In another interview, he expressed disappointment over the commercial failure of the film, saying, "It was an independent film and needed a lot of money behind it to get it out there. Warner Bros. had the distribution rights but it wasn't one of their own, so I think it might have been [marketed] harder if it was."<ref name="Broadbent Hollywood Reporter">{{cite news |title=Jim Broadbent Talks Oscar Stress, Working With Spielberg, Scorsese and Woody Allen |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-broadbent-talks-oscar-stress-662476 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=12 April 2013 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226091922/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-broadbent-talks-oscar-stress-662476 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hugh Grant said in an October 2014 interview, "I thought [''Cloud Atlas''] was amazing. [The Wachowskis] are the bravest film-makers in the world, and I think it's an amazing film&nbsp;... it's frustrating to me. Every time I've done something outside the genre of light comedy, the film fails to find an audience at the box office. And, sadly, ''Cloud Atlas'' never really found the audience it deserved."<ref name="Hanks IndieWire">{{cite news |title=Hugh Grant Says It's 'Frustrating' That 'Cloud Atlas' 'Never Really Found The Audience It Deserved' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/10/hugh-grant-says-its-frustrating-that-cloud-atlas-never-really-found-the-audience-it-deserved-271430/ |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305085818/https://www.indiewire.com/2014/10/hugh-grant-says-its-frustrating-that-cloud-atlas-never-really-found-the-audience-it-deserved-271430/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He later said in 2016 "the whole thing was fascinating. You know, when you work with proper people who love cinema, [the Wachowskis are] a special breed, they're not the same as people who just make movies and we happen to use cameras. [They are] people who really love cinema."<ref name="Hanks Collider"/>


In the same interview, Lana Wachowski stated "(p)eople will try to will ''Cloud Atlas'' to be rejected. They will call it messy, or complicated, or undecided whether it's trying to say something New Agey-profound or not. And we're wrestling with the same things that Dickens and Hugo and David Mitchell and Herman Melville were wrestling with. We're wrestling with those same ideas, and we're just trying to do it in a more exciting context than conventionally you are allowed to.&nbsp;... We don't want to say, 'We are making this to mean this.' What we find is that the most interesting art is open to a spectrum of interpretation."<ref name="Wachowskisavclub"/><ref name="Wachoskisavclub2">{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-wachowskis-explain-how-cloud-atlas-unplugs-peo,87900/2/|title=The Wachowskis interview (page 2)|work=The A.V. Club|date=25 October 2012|accessdate=15 November 2012}}</ref>
{{Quote box
{{Quote box
|title =
|title =
|quote = "Adaptation is a form of translation, and all acts of translation have to deal with untranslatable spots. [...] [If] you are the one with knowledge of the "into" language, do what works. When asked whether I mind the changes made during the adaptation of ''Cloud Atlas'', my response is similar: The filmmakers speak fluent film language, and they've done what works."
|quote = Adaptation is a form of translation, and all acts of translation have to deal with untranslatable spots.&nbsp;... [If] you are the one with knowledge of the "into" language, do what works. When asked whether I mind the changes made during the adaptation of ''Cloud Atlas'', my response is similar: The filmmakers speak fluent film language, and they've done what works.
|source = —[[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]] in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]].'' <ref name="MitchellAdaptation"/>
|source = —[[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]] in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''<ref name="MitchellAdaptation"/>
|align = right
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====David Mitchell====
====David Mitchell====
Before hearing about the Wachowskis and Tykwer's project, the author David Mitchell believed it was impossible to adapt his book as a film: "My only thought was 'What a shame this could never be a film. It has a [[Matryoshka doll|Russian doll]] structure. God knows how the book gets away with it but it does, but you can't ask a viewer of a film to begin a film six times, the sixth time being an hour and a half in. They'd all walk out.{{'"}}<ref name="Mitchell Guardian">{{cite news|title=David Mitchell: 'I don't want to project myself as this great experimenter'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/08/david-mitchell-project-great-experimenter|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=8 February 2013|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=26 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226092130/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/08/david-mitchell-project-great-experimenter|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Cloud Atlas'' author [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]] stated he had been impressed by the screenplay, saying the film was "magnificent". He was very satisfied by the casting as well, especially by Hanks, Berry and Broadbent, and stated he couldn't even remember now how he was originally portraying the characters in his mind before the movie.<ref name="Mitchell's reaction">{{cite news |url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18622230.html |date=16 March 2013 |publisher=[[AlloCiné|AlloCiné.fr]]|language=French |title=5 questions to David Mitchell |deadurl=no |accessdate=4 October 2013}}</ref> He also supported the changes from the novel, impressed by how the Wachowskis and Tykwer successfully disassembled the structure of the book for the needs of the movie.<ref name="MitchellAdaptation">{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443675404578060870111158076.html|title=Translating 'Cloud Atlas' Into the Language of Film|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=19 October 2012|accessdate=15 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell's reaction"/>

In October 2013, Mitchell called the film "magnificent", having been very impressed by the screenplay. He was very satisfied by the casting, especially of Hanks, Berry and Broadbent. He said that he could not even remember how he had originally imagined the characters in his mind before seeing the movie.<ref name="Mitchell's reaction">{{cite news |url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18622230.html |date=16 March 2013 |publisher=[[AlloCiné]].fr |language=fr |title=5 questions to David Mitchell |access-date=4 October 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530231534/http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18622230.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also supported the changes from the novel, impressed by how the Wachowskis and Tykwer successfully disassembled the structure of the book for the needs of the movie.<ref name="MitchellAdaptation">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443675404578060870111158076|title=Translating 'Cloud Atlas' Into the Language of Film|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=19 October 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917201634/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443675404578060870111158076|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell's reaction"/>

===Controversy===
The advocacy group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) and several commentators online criticized the film's use of white actors in [[yellowface]] to portray East Asian characters in the neo-[[Seoul]] sequences.<ref name=HlwdRptr>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-asian-actors-yellow-face-MANAA-383070|title='Cloud Atlas' Slammed for Lack of Asian Actors, 'Yellow Face' Makeup By Advocacy Group|author=Jordan Zakarin|work=Hollywood Reporter|access-date=30 October 2012|date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104184559/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-asian-actors-yellow-face-MANAA-383070|archive-date=4 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Musto10262012">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/10/cloud_atlas_und.php|title=Cloud Atlas Under Attack From Asian Group|last=Musto|first=Michael|date=26 October 2012|work=Village Voice|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=1 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101024526/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/10/cloud_atlas_und.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rich|first=Katey|date=2012-10-25|title=Why Accusing Cloud Atlas Of Racism Is Missing The Point|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Accusing-Cloud-Atlas-Racism-Missing-Point-33781.html|access-date=2021-10-21|website=CINEMABLEND|language=en|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021192901/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Accusing-Cloud-Atlas-Racism-Missing-Point-33781.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Is Cloud Atlas racist?|url=https://theweek.com/articles/471007/iscloud-atlasracist|access-date=2021-10-21|website=The Week|date=25 October 2012|language=en|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021192903/https://theweek.com/articles/471007/iscloud-atlasracist|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-10-26|title=Cloud Atlas under fire for casting white actors in 'yellowface' makeup|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/26/cloud-atlas-under-fire-yellowface|access-date=2021-10-21|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019010822/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/26/cloud-atlas-under-fire-yellowface|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Blay|first=Zeba|date=2012-10-21|title=Ethnic Cleansing: Colorblind Casting in Cloud Atlas|url=http://hyperallergic.com/58869/ethnic-cleansing-colorblind-casting-in-cloud-atlas/|access-date=2021-10-21|website=Hyperallergic|language=en-US|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024100835/https://hyperallergic.com/58869/ethnic-cleansing-colorblind-casting-in-cloud-atlas/|url-status=live}}</ref> MANAA President [[Guy Aoki]] said that the film had a double standard, as it used black actors to portray black characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manaa.org/?p=203|title=MANAA Asserts Offensive Use of Yellowface Make-Up and Exclusion of Asian Actors in the Film "Cloud Atlas"|work=manaa.org|date=3 April 2013|access-date=19 July 2015|archive-date=19 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919152215/http://manaa.org/?p=203|url-status=live}}</ref>

The directors responded that the same multi-racial actors portrayed multiple roles of various nationalities and races (not just East Asian) across a 500-year story arc, showing "the continuity of souls" critical to the story.<ref name=HlwdRptr/> The portrayal of [[Moriori]] character Autua by a Black British man was subject to similar scrutiny; it was criticized by some as offensive and confusing for audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=says |first=Desechables Monterrey |date=2014-03-25 |title=Accumulated Histories and Disposable People in Cloud Atlas and the Black Atlantic |url=https://sites.duke.edu/blackatlantic/sample-page/contemporary-film-and-black-atlantic/history/accumulated-histories-and-disposable-people-in-cloud-atlas-and-the-black-atlantic/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=The Black Atlantic |language=en-US |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928184212/https://sites.duke.edu/blackatlantic/sample-page/contemporary-film-and-black-atlantic/history/accumulated-histories-and-disposable-people-in-cloud-atlas-and-the-black-atlantic/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monji |first=Jana J. |date=2012-11-19 |title=A hovering accusation of racism shadows 'Cloud Atlas' |url=https://ageofthegeek.org/2012/11/19/a-hovering-accusation-of-racism-shadows-cloud-atlas/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Pasadena Art & Science Beat |language=en |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928184211/https://ageofthegeek.org/2012/11/19/a-hovering-accusation-of-racism-shadows-cloud-atlas/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1223&context=jrf|title=Cloud Atlas' Queer Tiki Kitsch: Polynesians, Settler Colonialism, and Sci-Fi Film|website=Journal of Religion & Film|access-date=28 September 2022|archive-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928184216/https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1223&context=jrf|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Accolades===
===Accolades===
The film was pre-nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects]], but was eventually not nominated in that or any other category.<ref>{{cite web|author=Guy Lodge|url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/impossible-snubbed-as-oscars-vfx-race-is-cut-to-10-films|title='Impossible' snubbed as Oscar's VFX race is cut to 10 films|work=Hitfix|date=29 November 2012}}</ref>
The film was shortlisted for the [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects]], but was not nominated in any category.<ref>{{cite web|author=Guy Lodge|url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/impossible-snubbed-as-oscars-vfx-race-is-cut-to-10-films|title='Impossible' snubbed as Oscar's VFX race is cut to 10 films|work=Hitfix|date=29 November 2012|access-date=3 December 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002417/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/impossible-snubbed-as-oscars-vfx-race-is-cut-to-10-films|url-status=live}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" width="100%" cellpadding="5"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border-spacing: 5px;"
|+List of awards and nominations
|+List of awards and nominations
! width="20%"|Organization
! style="width:20%;"|Organization
! width="40%"|Award category
! style="width:40%;"|Award category
! width="30%"|Nominee(s)
! style="width:30%;"|Nominee(s)
! width="10%"|Result
! style="width:10%;"|Result
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]]
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| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
|-
|-
| [[Art Directors Guild|Art Directors Guild Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Art Directors Guild Awards|url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/anna-karenina-cloud-atlas-skyfall-among-art-directors-guild-nominees|work=Hitfix|accessdate=3 January 2012}}</ref>
| [[Art Directors Guild]] Awards<ref>{{cite web|title=Art Directors Guild Awards|url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/anna-karenina-cloud-atlas-skyfall-among-art-directors-guild-nominees|work=Hitfix|access-date=3 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141308/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/anna-karenina-cloud-atlas-skyfall-among-art-directors-guild-nominees|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Best Production Design in a Fantasy Film
| Best Production Design in a Fantasy Film
| Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
| Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Austin Film Critics Association|Austin Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref name="Austin Film Critics Association Awards">{{cite web|title=Austin Film Critics Association Awards|url=http://austinfilmcritics.org/awards/2012-awards/|work=Austin Film Critics|accessdate=22 December 2012}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Austin Film Critics Association]] Awards<ref name="Austin Film Critics Association Awards">{{cite web|title=Austin Film Critics Association Awards|url=http://austinfilmcritics.org/awards/2012-awards/|work=Austin Film Critics|access-date=22 December 2012|archive-date=7 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207111052/http://austinfilmcritics.org/awards/2012-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Best Film
| Best Film
| rowspan=2|''Cloud Atlas''
| rowspan=2|''Cloud Atlas''
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|-
|-
| Best Score
| Best Score
| [[Tom Tykwer]], [[Johnny Klimek]] and [[Reinhold Heil]]
| [[Tom Tykwer]], Johnny Klimek, and [[Reinhold Heil]]
|-
|-
| [[Bavarian Film Awards]]
| [[Bavarian Film Awards]]
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| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
|-
|-
| Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards<ref name="Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards">{{cite web|title=Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/zero-dark-thirty-leads-new-boston-online-film-critics-award-winners|work=Indiewire|accessdate=14 December 2012}}</ref>
| Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards<ref name="Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards">{{cite web|title=Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/zero-dark-thirty-leads-new-boston-online-film-critics-award-winners|work=Indiewire|date=9 December 2012|access-date=14 December 2012|archive-date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213055827/http://www.indiewire.com/article/zero-dark-thirty-leads-new-boston-online-film-critics-award-winners|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Ten Best Films of the Year
| Ten Best Films of the Year
| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
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| Best Score
| Best Score
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
|rowspan="5" {{nom}}
|rowspan="12" {{nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2012|Chicago Film Critics Association]]
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2012|Chicago Film Critics Association]]
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| Alexander Berner
| Alexander Berner
|-
|-
| rowspan="7"|CinEuphoria Awards
|[[Costume Designers Guild|Costume Designers Guild Awards]]
| Best Film - International Competition
| rowspan="2"|Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
|-
| Best Screenplay - International Competition
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Supporting Actor - International Competition
| [[Jim Sturgess]]
|-
| [[Ben Whishaw]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Supporting Actress - International Competition
| [[Bae Doona|Doona Bae]]
|-
| Halle Berry
|-
| Best Original Music - International Competition
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
|-
|[[Costume Designers Guild]] Awards
| Excellence in Fantasy Film
| Excellence in Fantasy Film
| [[Kym Barrett]] and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
| [[Kym Barrett]] and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
|-
|-
| [[Czech Lion|Czech Lion Awards]]
| [[Czech Lion]] Awards
| Best Foreign Language Film
| Best Foreign Language Film
| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[18th Critics' Choice Awards|Critics' Choice Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Critic's Choice Awards|url=http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/|work=Critics Choice|accessdate=11 December 2012}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[18th Critics' Choice Awards|Critics' Choice Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Critic's Choice Awards|url=http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/|work=Critics Choice|access-date=11 December 2012|archive-date=14 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314221226/http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
| Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
|-
|-
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Makeup|Best Makeup]]
| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Makeup|Best Makeup]]
|rowspan=2|''Cloud Atlas''
|rowspan="2"|''Cloud Atlas''
|{{won}}
|{{won}}
|-
|-
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|rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="10" |[[Deutscher Filmpreis|German Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=German Film Awards|url=http://movie-on.blogspot.fr/2013/03/2013-german-film-awards-nominations.html|accessdate=30 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=German Film Awards 2|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000280/2013|accessdate=30 March 2013}}</ref>
| rowspan="10" |[[Deutscher Filmpreis|German Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=German Film Awards|url=http://movie-on.blogspot.fr/2013/03/2013-german-film-awards-nominations.html|access-date=30 March 2013|archive-date=30 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630153044/http://movie-on.blogspot.fr/2013/03/2013-german-film-awards-nominations.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=German Film Awards 2|website=[[IMDb]]|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000280/2013|access-date=30 March 2013|archive-date=6 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606122737/http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000280/2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[German Film Award for Best Feature Film|Outstanding Feature Film]]
| [[German Film Award for Best Fiction Film|Best Fiction Film]]
| [[Grant Hill (producer)|Grant Hill]], Stefan Arndt, [[The Wachowskis|Lana Wachowski]], Tom Tykwer and [[The Wachowskis|Andy Wachowski]]
| [[Grant Hill (producer)|Grant Hill]], Stefan Arndt, Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
|-
|-
| [[German Film Award for Best Direction|Best Direction]]
| [[German Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Lana Wachowki, Tom Tykwer and Andy Wachowski
| Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
|-
|-
| Best Editing
| Best Editing
Line 322: Line 402:
| [[Frank Griebe]] and [[John Toll]]
| [[Frank Griebe]] and [[John Toll]]
|-
|-
| Best Film Score
| Best Film Music
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
Line 331: Line 411:
|-
|-
| Best Makeup
| Best Makeup
| Heike Merker, Daniel Parker and Jeremy Woodhead
| Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, and Jeremy Woodhead
|-
|-
| Best Production Design
| Best Production Design
Line 350: Line 430:
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Houston Film Critics Society|Houston Film Critics Society Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Dansby|first=Andrew|title=Houston Film Critics Society announces its nominees|url=http://www.chron.com/life/article/Houston-Film-Critics-Society-announces-its-4123566.php|date=17 December 2012|work=Chron|accessdate=20 December 2012 }}</ref>
| rowspan="3" | [[Houston Film Critics Society]] Awards<ref>{{cite web|last=Dansby|first=Andrew|title=Houston Film Critics Society announces its nominees|url=https://www.chron.com/life/article/Houston-Film-Critics-Society-announces-its-4123566.php|date=17 December 2012|work=Chron|access-date=20 December 2012|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407155745/https://www.chron.com/life/article/Houston-Film-Critics-Society-announces-its-4123566.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Best Film
| Best Film
| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
Line 362: Line 442:
|rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
|-
| rowspan=3| [[International Film Music Critics Association|International Film Music Critics Association Awards]]
| rowspan="3"| [[International Film Music Critics Association]] Awards
|Film Score of the Year
|Film Score of the Year
|rowspan=2|Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
|rowspan=2|Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
|-
|-
|Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film
|Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film
|-
|-
|Film Music Composition of the Year
|Film Music Composition of the Year
|Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil for "The Cloud Atlas Sextet for Orchestra"
|Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil for "The Cloud Atlas Sextet for Orchestra"
|-
|-
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
Line 375: Line 455:
| Halle Berry
| Halle Berry
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Online Film Critics Society|Online Film Critics Society Awards]]
|rowspan=2|[[Online Film Critics Society]] Awards
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer and Andy Wachowski
| Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski{{efn|name=Lilly}}
|-
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
Line 383: Line 463:
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Phoenix Film Critics Society|Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards and Detroit Film Critics Society Awards|url=http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2012/12/11/phoenix-and-detroit-critics-join-the-mix/#more-59001|accessdate=16 December 2012}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards<ref>{{cite web|title=Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards and Detroit Film Critics Society Awards|date=11 December 2012|url=http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2012/12/11/phoenix-and-detroit-critics-join-the-mix/#more-59001|access-date=16 December 2012|archive-date=17 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117005135/http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2012/12/11/phoenix-and-detroit-critics-join-the-mix/#more-59001|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]
| Best Production Design
| Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
| Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
| rowspan="2" {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|-
|-
| [[Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| Best Visual Effects
| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
|-
|-
Line 396: Line 476:
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Satellite Awards 2012|Satellite Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Satellite Awards|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/satellite-awards-nominates-10-films-396865|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate=5 December 2012}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Satellite Awards 2012|Satellite Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Satellite Awards|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/satellite-awards-nominates-10-films-396865|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=5 December 2012|first=Gregg|last=Kilday|archive-date=7 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207025034/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/satellite-awards-nominates-10-films-396865|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Satellite Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| Alexander Berner
| Alexander Berner
Line 405: Line 485:
|-
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
| Dan Glass, Geoffrey Hancock and Stephane Ceretti
| Dan Glass, Geoffrey Hancock, and Stephane Ceretti
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[39th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/02/20/the-hobbit-saturn-awards-movie-tv-nominations/1933067/|title='The Hobbit' leads Saturn Awards with nine nomination}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GraphicCity/news/?a=74533|title=The 39th Saturn Award Nominations}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/paralleluniverse-blogpost.aspx?post=4952c6d6-1266-4377-9ae6-ff6a00a5b59e|title=Nominations for 39th annual Saturn Awards unveiled}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" |[[39th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/02/20/the-hobbit-saturn-awards-movie-tv-nominations/1933067/|title='The Hobbit' leads Saturn Awards with nine nomination|work=USA Today|first1=Brian|last1=Truitt|date=20 February 2013|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221044802/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/02/20/the-hobbit-saturn-awards-movie-tv-nominations/1933067/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/paralleluniverse-blogpost.aspx?post=4952c6d6-1266-4377-9ae6-ff6a00a5b59e|title=Nominations for 39th annual Saturn Awards unveiled|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225153211/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/paralleluniverse-blogpost.aspx?post=4952c6d6-1266-4377-9ae6-ff6a00a5b59e|archive-date=25 February 2013}}</ref>
| [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]]
| ''Cloud Atlas''
| ''Cloud Atlas''
Line 423: Line 503:
|-
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]]
| Heike Merker, Daniel Parker and Jeremy Woodhead
| Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, and Jeremy Woodhead
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
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| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
| Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
|-
|-
| [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2012|Washington D. C. Area Film Critics Association]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards|url=http://www.dcfilmcritics.com/|work=Film Critics Association|accessdate=10 December 2012}}</ref>
| [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2012|Washington D. C. Area Film Critics Association]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards|url=http://www.dcfilmcritics.com/|work=Film Critics Association|access-date=10 December 2012|archive-date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129195310/http://www.dcfilmcritics.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Best Art Direction
| Best Art Direction
| Uli Hanisch, Hugh Bateup (production designers), Peter Walpole and Rebecca Alleway (set decorators)
| Uli Hanisch and Hugh Bateup (production designers), Peter Walpole and [[Rebecca Alleway]] (set decorators)
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|-
|-
|[[Young Artist Award]]<ref name="Young Artist Awards 34">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms34.html|title=34th Annual Young Artist Awards|accessdate=31 March 2013|work=Young Artist Awards}}</ref>
|[[Young Artist Award]]<ref name="Young Artist Awards 34">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms34.html|title=34th Annual Young Artist Awards|access-date=31 March 2013|work=Young Artist Awards|archive-date=12 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612213744/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms34.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[34th Young Artist Awards#Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under|Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under]]
|[[34th Young Artist Awards#Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under|Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under]]
|Raevan Lee Hanan
|Raevan Lee Hanan
Line 448: Line 528:
|}
|}


===Controversy===
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
Immediately after the film's release, the advocacy group Media Action Network for Asian Americans criticized the film for the use of what is sometimes labelled [[Portrayal of East Asians in Hollywood|'yellowface' makeup]] to allow non-[[Asian people|Asian actors]] to portray certain Asian characters in the neo-Seoul sequences.<ref name=HlwdRptr>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-asian-actors-yellow-face-MANAA-383070|title='Cloud Atlas' Slammed for Lack of Asian Actors, 'Yellow Face' Makeup By Advocacy Group|author=Jordan Zakarin|work=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=30 October 2012|date=25 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Musto10262012">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/10/cloud_atlas_und.php|title=Cloud Atlas Under Attack From Asian Group|last=Musto|first=Michael|date=26 October 2012|work=Village Voice|accessdate=17 December 2012}}</ref> The directors pointed out that the same multi-racial actors portrayed multiple roles, of various nationalities and races (not just Asian), across a 500 year story arc, showing "the continuity of souls" critical to the story.<ref name=HlwdRptr/>

===Box office===
The film grossed $27.1 million in the US and $130.4 million worldwide.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cloudatlas.htm</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}

* {{cite web|title=Box office business for Cloud Atlas IMDB Database|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Hollywood stars at Bo'ness|magazine=The Railway Magazine|pages=65|issue=1345|volume=159|date=May 2013|location=Horncastle|publisher=Mortons Media Group|issn=0033-8923|oclc=750645684}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Cloud Atlas (2012 film)}}
{{Commons category|Cloud Atlas (2012 film)}}
{{wikiquote|Cloud Atlas (film)}}
{{wikiquote|Cloud Atlas (film)}}
* {{Official website|http://cloudatlas.warnerbros.com/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/cloud-atlas}}
* {{IMDb title|1371111|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{IMDb title|1371111|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|cloud_atlas_2012|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{mojo title|cloudatlas|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{Metacritic film|cloud-atlas|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|cloud_atlas_2012|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{Mojo title|cloudatlas|Cloud Atlas}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Cloud Atlas}}


{{Tom Tykwer}}
{{Tom Tykwer}}
{{The Wachowskis}}
{{The Wachowskis}}
{{David Mitchell}}
{{David Mitchell}}
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Latest revision as of 13:40, 15 December 2024

Cloud Atlas
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Lana Wachowski
  • Tom Tykwer
  • Lilly Wachowski[a]
Based onCloud Atlas
by David Mitchell
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byAlexander Berner
Music by
Production
companies
  • Cloud Atlas Productions
  • X Filme Creative Pool
  • Anarchos Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 8 September 2012 (2012-09-08) (TIFF)
  • 26 October 2012 (2012-10-26) (United States)
  • 15 November 2012 (2012-11-15) (Germany)
Running time
Countries
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • United States[4]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100–146.7 million[5][6]
Box office$130.5 million[7]

Cloud Atlas is a 2012 epic science fiction film written and directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer.[8] Based on the 2004 novel by David Mitchell, it has multiple plots occurring during six eras and features an ensemble cast who perform multiple roles across these time periods.

The film was produced by Grant Hill and Stefan Arndt, in addition to the Wachowskis and Tykwer. During its four years of development, the producers had difficulties securing financial support. It was eventually produced with a budget between US$100 million and US$146.7 million provided by independent sources, making it one of the most expensive independent films ever produced. Filming for Cloud Atlas began in September 2011 at Babelsberg Studio in Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany.

It premiered on 8 September 2012 at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival,[9] and was publicly released on 26 October 2012 in conventional and IMAX cinemas.[10] Critics were polarized, causing it to be included on various "Best Film" and "Worst Film" lists.[11][12][13] It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Tykwer (who co-scored the film), Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil.[14] It received several nominations at the Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, and won for Best Editing and Best Make-up.

Plot

[edit]

The story jumps between eras, spanning hundreds of years, until each storyline eventually resolves. Writings from characters in prior storylines are found in future storylines. Characters appear to recur in each era, but change relationships to each other, suggesting reincarnation or other connection between souls through the ages.

In the Chatham Islands, 1849, American lawyer Adam Ewing is waiting for his transport ship to be repaired. He witnesses the whipping of Autua, an enslaved Moriori man. Autua stows away on Ewing's ship, having noticed Ewing's sympathy, and persuades him to advocate for Autua to join the crew as a free man. Autua saves Ewing's life before the ship's doctor, Henry Goose, can poison Ewing and steal his gold under the guise of treating him for a parasitic worm. In San Francisco, Ewing and his wife Tilda denounce her father's complicity in slavery and leave for New York to join the abolition movement.

In 1936, English composer Robert Frobisher finds work as an amanuensis to aging composer Vyvyan Ayrs, allowing Frobisher to compose his own masterpiece, "The Cloud Atlas Sextet". As the sextet nears completion, Ayrs demands credit for it and threatens to expose Frobisher's bisexuality if he refuses. Frobisher shoots and wounds Ayrs and goes into hiding. Frobisher finishes the sextet and shoots himself before Frobisher's lover Rufus Sixsmith arrives.

In San Francisco, 1973, journalist Luisa Rey meets Sixsmith, now a nuclear physicist. Sixsmith tips off Rey to a conspiracy to create a catastrophe at a nuclear reactor run by Lloyd Hooks, who secretly promotes oil-energy interests. He is killed by Hooks' hitman, Bill Smoke, before he can give her a report as proof. Scientist Isaac Sachs passes her a copy of Sixsmith's report, but Smoke kills Sachs and then runs Rey's car off a bridge, destroying the report. With help from the plant's head of security, Joe Napier, Rey evades another assassination attempt, and Smoke is killed. With another copy of the report from Sixsmith's niece, Rey exposes the plot and has Hooks indicted.

In London, 2012, gangster Dermot Hoggins murders a critic after a harsh review of his memoir, generating huge sales. Hoggins' brothers threaten the publisher, the aging Timothy Cavendish, for Hoggins' profits. Timothy's brother, Denholme, tells him to hide at Aurora House. Believing Aurora House is a hotel, Timothy signs in, only to discover he has unwittingly committed himself to a nursing home where all outside contact is prohibited; Denholme reveals that he sent Timothy there as revenge for an affair with his wife. Timothy escapes with three other residents, resumes his relationship with an old flame, and writes a screenplay about his experience.

In Korea in 2144, Sonmi-451 is a "fabricant", a humanoid clone indentured as a fast food server in a dystopian Neo Seoul. She is exposed to ideas of rebellion by another fabricant, Yoona-939, who has obtained a clip of the movie about Cavendish's involuntary institutionalization. After Yoona is killed, Sonmi is rescued by rebel Commander Hae-Joo Chang, who exposes Sonmi to the banned writings of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and the full film version of Cavendish's experience. Eventually, Hae-Joo shows her that fabricants are actually recycled into food that keeps them acquiescent. Sonmi makes a public broadcast of her revelations before the authorities attack, killing Hae-Joo and recapturing Sonmi. After recounting her story to an archivist, she is executed.

In 2321, the tribespeople of a post-apocalyptic Hawaii worship Sonmi, whose recorded testimony is the basis of their sacred text. Zachry Bailey's village is visited by Meronym, a member of an advanced, off-world society called the Prescients, who are dying from a plague. Meronym is searching for a forgotten communication station on Mauna Sol to send an SOS to off-world humans. In exchange for healing Zachry's niece, Catkin, Meronym is guided by Zachry to the station where Sonmi made her recording. Returning home, Zachry finds his tribe slaughtered by the cannibalistic Kona tribe. He kills the sleeping Kona chief and rescues Catkin before he and Meronym fight off the other Kona tribesmen. Zachry and Catkin join Meronym and the Prescients as their ship leaves Big Island. On a distant planet, Zachry is married to Meronym and recounts the story to his grandchildren.

Main cast

[edit]

The protagonist of each story is indicated in bold.

Actor Pacific Islands, 1849 Cambridge / Edinburgh, 1936 San Francisco, 1973 London, 2012 Neo Seoul, 2144 Big Island, 106 winters after The Fall (2321)
Tom Hanks Dr. Henry Goose Hotel Manager Isaac Sachs Dermot Hoggins Cavendish Look-alike Actor Zachry Bailey
Halle Berry Native Woman Jocasta Ayrs Luisa Rey Indian Party Guest Ovid Meronym
Jim Broadbent Captain Molyneux Vyvyan Ayrs Timothy Cavendish Korean Musician Prescient
Jim Sturgess Adam Ewing Poor Hotel Guest Megan's Dad Highlander Hae-Joo Chang Adam (Zachry's Brother-in-Law)
Ben Whishaw Cabin Boy Robert Frobisher Record Store Clerk Georgette Cavendish Tribesman
Doona Bae Tilda Ewing Megan's Mom, Mexican Woman Sonmi-451, Sonmi-351, Sonmi Prostitute
Hugo Weaving Haskell Moore Tadeusz Kesselring Bill Smoke Nurse Noakes Boardman Mephi Old Georgie
Hugh Grant Rev. Giles Horrox Hotel Heavy Lloyd Hooks Denholme Cavendish Seer Rhee Kona Chief
Susan Sarandon Madame Horrox Older Ursula Yosouf Suleiman Abbess
Keith David Kupaka Joe Napier An-kor Apis Prescient
James D'Arcy Young Rufus Sixsmith Old Rufus Sixsmith Nurse James Archivist Park
Zhou Xun Talbot (Hotel Manager) Yoona-939 Rose
David Gyasi Autua Lester Rey Duophysite

Other cast members who appear in more than one segment include Robert Fyfe, Martin Wuttke, Brody Nicholas Lee, Alistair Petrie, and Sylvestra Le Touzel.[15] In addition, author David Mitchell makes a cameo appearance as a double agent in the futuristic Korea section.[16]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The film is based on the 2004 novel Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Filmmaker Tom Tykwer revealed in January 2009 his intent to adapt the novel and said he was working on a screenplay with the Wachowskis,[17] who optioned the novel.[18] By June 2010, Tykwer had asked actors Natalie Portman, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, James McAvoy, and Ian McKellen to star in Cloud Atlas.[19] By April 2011, the Wachowskis joined Tykwer in co-directing the film.[20] In the following May, with Hanks and Berry confirmed in their roles, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, and Jim Broadbent also joined the cast.[21][22] Actor Hugh Grant joined the cast days before the start of filming; he was originally supposed to have only five roles, but asked the Wachowskis for a sixth one, and subsequently was also cast as Denholme Cavendish in the 2012 storyline.[23][24] According to Berry, the character of Ovid she plays in the 2144 storyline was originally meant to be a female character played by Tom Hanks, until the directors felt that Ovid was a logical part of the journey of the soul played by Berry.[25]

It was financed by the German production companies A Company, ARD Degeto Film and X Filme. In May 2011, Variety reported that it had a production budget of $140 million.[26] The filmmakers secured approximately $20 million from the German government, including €10 million ($11.8 million) from the German Federal Film Fund [de] (DFFF),[27][28] €100,000 ($118,000) development funding[29] and €1.5 million ($1.8 million) from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, a German funder, as part of their plans to film at Studio Babelsberg later in 2011.[26] The project also received €1 million ($1.2 million) financial support from Filmstiftung NRW,[30] €750,000 ($887,000) from Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, €30 million ($35.5 million) from UE-Fonds (the biggest proportion of the budget), and €300,000 ($355,000) from FFF Bayern, another German organization.[29] The Wachowskis contributed approximately $7 million to the project out of their own finances.[31] The budget was updated to $100 million.[5]

The Wachowskis stated that due to lack of financing, the film was almost abandoned several times. However, they noted how the crew was enthusiastic and determined: "They flew—even though their agents called them and said, 'They don't have the money, the money's not closed.'" They specifically praised Tom Hanks's enthusiasm: "Warner Bros. calls and, through our agent, says they've looked at the math and decided that they don't like this deal. They're pulling all of the money away, rescinding the offer. I was shaking. I heard, 'Are you saying the movie is dead?' They were like, 'Yes, the movie is dead.' ... At the end of the meeting, Tom says, 'Let's do it. I'm in. When do we start?' ... Tom said this unabashed, enthusiastic 'Yes!' which put our heart back together. We walked away thinking, this movie is dead but somehow, it's alive and we're going to make it."[32] "Every single time, Tom Hanks was the first who said, 'I'm getting on the plane.' And then once he said he was getting on the plane, basically everyone said, 'Well, Tom's on the plane, we're on the plane.' And so everyone flew [to Berlin to begin the film]. It was like this giant leap of faith. From all over the globe."[31]

Some German journalists called it "the first attempt at a German blockbuster".[33]

Principal photography

[edit]

Tykwer and the Wachowskis filmed parallel to each other using separate camera crews.[34] Although all three shot scenes together when permitted by the schedule, the Wachowskis mostly directed the 1849 story and the two set in the future, while Tykwer directed the stories set in 1936, 1973, and 2012.[35] Tykwer said that the three directors planned every segment of the film together in pre-production, and continued to work closely together through post-production.[36] Warner Bros. Pictures representatives agreed to the film's 172-minute running time, after previously stating that it should not exceed 150 minutes.[37]

Filming began at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany, on 16 September 2011, the base camp for the production.[38] Other German locations include the city of Düsseldorf and the Saxon Switzerland landscape,[39] furthermore sets[40] in and near Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland,[41] and the Mediterranean island of Majorca, Spain.[23] Glasgow doubled for both San Francisco and London.[38] Scenes filmed in Scotland feature the new Clackmannanshire Bridge[42] near Alloa. The "Big Island" and "Pacific Islands" stories were shot on Majorca, mostly in the World Heritage site of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Scenes were shot at Cala Tuent and near Formentor, amongst others.[40] The opening scene, when Adam Ewing meets Dr. Henry Goose, was filmed at Sa Calobra beach. Port de Sóller provided the setting for the scene when the 19th-century ship is mooring.[43]

The film was meant to be shot in chronological order; however, Berry broke her foot two days before she was supposed to start filming. Instead of replacing her, the Wachowskis and Tykwer heavily changed the initial filming schedule; Berry stated that "it involved travelling back and forth to Majorca and then Germany then we had to go back to Majorca when my foot got a little bit better and we were able to shoot some of that stuff on the mountainside when I could climb a little bit better. It was all over the place."[44] According to her, "Tom [Hanks] would play nurse to me. He really took care of me. He would bring me coffee and soup and just stay with me during breaks in shooting because it was difficult for me to move around, especially at the beginning ... I basically had to be helped back to my chair after every take, but you learn to adapt to the situation. But with Tom at my side, I was really able to go beyond my own expectations of what I was capable of as an actress."[44]

Music

[edit]

Besides directing the film, Tykwer co-composed the score with his longtime collaborators, Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek. The trio worked together for years as Pale 3, composing music for several films directed by Tykwer, most notably Run Lola Run, The Princess and the Warrior, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, and The International. The score was recorded in Leipzig, Germany with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Radio Chorus, and Gene Pritsker orchestrated the score.[45][46] WaterTower Music released the soundtrack album via digital download on 23 October 2012 and CD on 13 November 2012.

Release

[edit]

The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a 10-minute standing ovation.[9][47][48]

It was released on 26 October 2012 in the United States.[49][50] Warner Bros. Pictures distributed it in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and Focus Features International handled sales for other territories.[51] According to the Wachowskis, Summit Entertainment, who previously worked with Tykwer on Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, was originally going to distribute it internationally, but ultimately rejected it.[52] It was released in cinemas in China on 31 January 2013 with 39 minutes of cuts, including removal of nudity, a sexual scene, and numerous conversations.[53]

Marketing

[edit]

A six-minute trailer, accompanied by a short introduction by the three directors describing the ideas behind the creation of the film, was released on 26 July 2012.[54] A shorter official trailer was released on 7 September 2012.[55] The six-minute trailer includes three pieces of music. The opening piano music is the main theme of the soundtrack (Prelude: The Atlas March/The Cloud Atlas Sextet) by composing trio Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil, followed by an instrumental version of the song "Sonera" from Thomas J. Bergersen's album Illusions. The song in the last part is "Outro" from M83's album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.[56]

Home media

[edit]

The film was released on home media (Blu-ray, DVD and UV Digital Copy) on May 14, 2013.[57]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The film garnered divided reactions by both critics and audiences, with many debating its length and editing of the interwoven stories, but praising other aspects such as the cinematography, score, visual style, ensemble cast, and ambition. The film received a lengthy standing ovation at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival, where it premiered on 9 September 2012.[58]

According to review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 293 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critics' consensus is that "Its sprawling, ambitious blend of thought-provoking narrative and eye-catching visuals will prove too unwieldy for some, but the sheer size and scope of Cloud Atlas are all but impossible to ignore."[59] Review aggregator Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[60] According to the website, the film appeared on 14 critics' top 10 lists for 2012.[61] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.[62]

Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars and ranked the film among his best of the year: "One of the most ambitious films ever made ... Even as I was watching Cloud Atlas the first time, I knew I would need to see it again. Now that I've seen it the second time, I know I'd like to see it a third time ... I think you will want to see this daring and visionary film ... I was never, ever bored by Cloud Atlas. On my second viewing, I gave up any attempt to work out the logical connections between the segments, stories and characters".[63] Conversely, Slant Magazine's Calum Marsh called it a "unique and totally unparalleled disaster" and said "[its] badness is fundamental, an essential aspect of the concept and its execution that I suspect is impossible to remedy or rectify."[64] Henry Barnes writing in The Guardian said that "At 172 minutes, Cloud Atlas carries all the marks of a giant folly, and those unfamiliar with the book will be baffled"; he gave the film two out of five stars.[3]

Nick Pickerton, who reviewed the film for The Village Voice, said, "There is a great deal of humbug about art and love in Cloud Atlas, but it is decidedly unlovable, and if you want to learn something about feeling, you're at the wrong movie."[65] Film critic Mark Kermode on his first viewing called it "an extremely honourable failure, but a failure", but then on a second viewing for the release of the DVD in the UK stated, "Second time around, I find it to be more engaging – still not an overall success, but containing several moments of genuine magic, and buoyed up by the exuberance of high-vaulting ambition."[66][67] Village Voice and Time magazine both named Cloud Atlas the worst film of 2012.[13]

Variety described it as "an intense three-hour mental workout rewarded with a big emotional payoff. ... One's attention must be engaged at all times as the mosaic triggers an infinite range of potentially profound personal responses."[68] James Rocchi of MSN Movies stated, "It is so full of passion and heart and empathy that it feels completely unlike any other modern film in its range either measured through scope of budget or sweep of action."[69] The Daily Beast called Cloud Atlas "one of the year's most important movies".[47] Michael Cieply of The New York Times commented on the film, "You will have to decide for yourself whether it works. It's that kind of picture. ... Is this the stuff of Oscars? Who knows? Is it a force to be reckoned with in the coming months? Absolutely."[70]

Box office

[edit]

Despite expectations that the film could be a success,[71] the film opened to $9.6 million from 2,008 theaters, an average of $4,787 per theater, finishing second at the U.S. box office. The debut was described as "dreadful" by Box Office Mojo.[72] The film ultimately grossed $27.1 million in the U.S. and $103.4 million internationally for a total of $130.5 million.[73]

Reaction from the crew

[edit]

Directors

[edit]

On 25 October 2012, after the premiere at Toronto (and despite the standing ovation it received there), Lilly Wachowski[a] stated as "soon as [critics] encounter a piece of art they don't fully understand the first time going through it, they think it's the fault of the movie or the work of art. They think, 'It's a mess ... This doesn't make any sense.' And they reject it, just out of an almost knee-jerk response to some ambiguity or some gulf between what they expect they should be able to understand, and what they understand."[31][74]

In the same interview, Lana Wachowski said people "will try to will Cloud Atlas to be rejected. They will call it messy, or complicated, or undecided whether it's trying to say something New Agey-profound or not. And we're wrestling with the same things that Dickens and Hugo and David Mitchell and Herman Melville were wrestling with. We're wrestling with those same ideas, and we're just trying to do it in a more exciting context than conventionally you are allowed to. ... We don't want to say, 'We are making this to mean this.' What we find is that the most interesting art is open to a spectrum of interpretation."[31][74]

Cast

[edit]

Tom Hanks has come to praise Cloud Atlas strongly in the years since its release.[75] In 2013, he stated "I've seen it three times now and discovered, I swear to God, different, profound things with each viewing."[76] In a 2017 interview, he called it "a movie that altered my entire consciousness," saying, "it's the only movie I've been in that I've seen more than twice."[24][77]

Halle Berry said in an interview, "It would be impossible to explain what I really feel or think about the film. It exists on so many different levels. ... I love the totality of all the characters."[44][25] She talked about playing characters belonging to other ethnicities, and playing a male: "This is so poignant for an actor and someone like me, to be able to shed my skin ... you know, to do something that I would have never been able to do. If it were not for this kind of project, I still wouldn't have done that."[25]

In a 2017 interview, Jim Broadbent called the film "great to do" and "fantastic".[78] In another interview, he expressed disappointment over the commercial failure of the film, saying, "It was an independent film and needed a lot of money behind it to get it out there. Warner Bros. had the distribution rights but it wasn't one of their own, so I think it might have been [marketed] harder if it was."[79]

Hugh Grant said in an October 2014 interview, "I thought [Cloud Atlas] was amazing. [The Wachowskis] are the bravest film-makers in the world, and I think it's an amazing film ... it's frustrating to me. Every time I've done something outside the genre of light comedy, the film fails to find an audience at the box office. And, sadly, Cloud Atlas never really found the audience it deserved."[80] He later said in 2016 "the whole thing was fascinating. You know, when you work with proper people who love cinema, [the Wachowskis are] a special breed, they're not the same as people who just make movies and we happen to use cameras. [They are] people who really love cinema."[24]

Adaptation is a form of translation, and all acts of translation have to deal with untranslatable spots. ... [If] you are the one with knowledge of the "into" language, do what works. When asked whether I mind the changes made during the adaptation of Cloud Atlas, my response is similar: The filmmakers speak fluent film language, and they've done what works.

David Mitchell

[edit]

Before hearing about the Wachowskis and Tykwer's project, the author David Mitchell believed it was impossible to adapt his book as a film: "My only thought was 'What a shame this could never be a film. It has a Russian doll structure. God knows how the book gets away with it but it does, but you can't ask a viewer of a film to begin a film six times, the sixth time being an hour and a half in. They'd all walk out.'"[82]

In October 2013, Mitchell called the film "magnificent", having been very impressed by the screenplay. He was very satisfied by the casting, especially of Hanks, Berry and Broadbent. He said that he could not even remember how he had originally imagined the characters in his mind before seeing the movie.[83] He also supported the changes from the novel, impressed by how the Wachowskis and Tykwer successfully disassembled the structure of the book for the needs of the movie.[81][83]

Controversy

[edit]

The advocacy group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) and several commentators online criticized the film's use of white actors in yellowface to portray East Asian characters in the neo-Seoul sequences.[84][85][86][87][88][89] MANAA President Guy Aoki said that the film had a double standard, as it used black actors to portray black characters.[90]

The directors responded that the same multi-racial actors portrayed multiple roles of various nationalities and races (not just East Asian) across a 500-year story arc, showing "the continuity of souls" critical to the story.[84] The portrayal of Moriori character Autua by a Black British man was subject to similar scrutiny; it was criticized by some as offensive and confusing for audiences.[91][92][93]

Accolades

[edit]

The film was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but was not nominated in any category.[94]

List of awards and nominations
Organization Award category Nominee(s) Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Editing Alexander Berner Nominated
Movie You Wanted to Love But Just Couldn't Cloud Atlas
Art Directors Guild Awards[95] Best Production Design in a Fantasy Film Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
Austin Film Critics Association Awards[11] Best Film Cloud Atlas
Top Ten Films Won
Best Score Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
Bavarian Film Awards Best Production Stefan Arndt
Black Reel Awards Best Actress Halle Berry Nominated
Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards[12] Ten Best Films of the Year Cloud Atlas Won
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Score Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Film Editing Alexander Berner
CinEuphoria Awards Best Film - International Competition Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski[a]
Best Screenplay - International Competition
Best Supporting Actor - International Competition Jim Sturgess
Ben Whishaw
Best Supporting Actress - International Competition Doona Bae
Halle Berry
Best Original Music - International Competition Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
Costume Designers Guild Awards Excellence in Fantasy Film Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Czech Lion Awards Best Foreign Language Film Cloud Atlas
Critics' Choice Awards[96] Best Costume Design Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Best Makeup Cloud Atlas Won
Best Visual Effects Nominated
German Film Awards[97][98] Best Fiction Film Grant Hill, Stefan Arndt, Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski[a]
Best Director Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski[a]
Best Editing Alexander Berner Won
Best Cinematography Frank Griebe and John Toll
Best Film Music Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil Nominated
Best Costume Design Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud Won
Best Makeup Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, and Jeremy Woodhead
Best Production Design Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch
Best Sound Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel, Frank Kruse, Matthias Lempert, Roland Winke and Ivan Sharrock Nominated
Audience Award for German Film of the Year Cloud Atlas
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Film - Wide Release
Golden Globe Awards[14] Best Original Score Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
Houston Film Critics Society Awards[99] Best Film Cloud Atlas
Best Original Score Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil Won
Technical Achievement Cloud Atlas Nominated
International Film Music Critics Association Awards Film Score of the Year Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil
Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film
Film Music Composition of the Year Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, and Reinhold Heil for "The Cloud Atlas Sextet for Orchestra"
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Halle Berry
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Lilly Wachowski[a]
Best Editing Alexander Berner Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards[100] Best Production Design Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch Nominated
Best Visual Effects Cloud Atlas
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Production Design Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch Won
Satellite Awards[101] Best Editing Alexander Berner Nominated
Best Costume Design Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Best Visual Effects Dan Glass, Geoffrey Hancock, and Stephane Ceretti
Saturn Awards[102][103] Best Science Fiction Film Cloud Atlas
Best Editing Alexander Berner Won
Best Production Design Hugh Bateup and Uli Hanisch Nominated
Best Costume Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Best Make-up Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, and Jeremy Woodhead Won
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Best Cinematography Frank Griebe and John Toll Nominated
Best Visual Effects Cloud Atlas
Best Music Score/Soundtrack Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil
Washington D. C. Area Film Critics Association[104] Best Art Direction Uli Hanisch and Hugh Bateup (production designers), Peter Walpole and Rebecca Alleway (set decorators) Won
Young Artist Award[105] Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under Raevan Lee Hanan Nominated

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Credited as Andy Wachowski.
  2. ^ Co-distributed with X-Verleih in Germany.[1]

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Further reading

[edit]
  • "Hollywood stars at Bo'ness". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 159, no. 1345. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. May 2013. p. 65. ISSN 0033-8923. OCLC 750645684.
[edit]