Most of Jean-Pierre Jeunot’s movies walk that thin line between gothic and fantasy which could land them easily in the steampunk category but “The City of Lost Children” is an example so good, I am almost ashamed I did not think of it before.

In a town situated somewhere right between the surrealist cracks of past, present and future a scientist kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process. There are elaborate machines, industrial backdrops, lots of velvet and some seriously heartbreaking acting by Ron Perlman and his little girl counterpart.
Something to definitely re-rent