futuristic shanghai
'Code 46', Michael Winterbottom's thoughtful dystopian drama, treats such themes as the divide between haves and have-nots, genetic cloning and the nature of memory (which 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' further elaborated on).
It is set primarily in Shanghai (along with Dubai), where no CGI or setbuilding is needed to create a futuristic backdrop. Many of Shanghai's architectural landmarks can be spotted: the Pudong and Bund skylines, the Jin Mao Tower and its spiral atrium, the neon orgy of Nanjing Road, the Nanpu Bridge ramps and Shanghai airport - to name the most recognizable.
At the same time, the film avoids being a moving postcard by 'using' the city sparingly and anonymously, to create a surreal kind of alienation reminiscent of 'Lost in Translation' - though more noirish...
Official site @ www.code46movie.net