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2 French children's films - real, Disney-free cinema

Posted by k-k-k-kenny (A) on May 20, 2008 at 18:02:53

I should probably start with a disclaimer.

I loathe the works of Disney: their single plot pseudo-quests leavened only by in-jokes for the lazy grown-ups who pay for the tickets, their relentless cannibalisation and contemptuous simplification of western culture, the moral vacuity of the Disney universe in which every little trier can get what he or she wants, if only the tyke is brave enough to weather the contrived trials in store ... I could go on.

Also, I am disposed to regard anything emanating from the city of light somewhere in the range from interest to obsession ...

Nevertheless, at least two top children's films from France are out there on DVD. Although both are subtitled, neither really requires them.

Zazie dans le Metro (Louis Malle 1961) tells of Zazie's weekend spent staying with her uncle in Paris. Uncle Gabriel lives with the delicious Albertine. He is also, we learn, a drag artiste. Flea-markets, theft, car chases, dancing, escapes and pursuits - it is very fast-paced with lots of visual humour, and plenty of surreal moments which my 5 and 8 year olds seemed to take in stride. (Of course, they're very advanced, you know ...)

The sub-text of attitudes towards "hormosessuals" was, I gather, quite radical in its time. It is dealt with very deftly, but I dare say that there remain those, whether in the Islamic world or the United States, whose religious scruples would dictate that this is an immoral work. They'd be missing out on a lot of fun, but there you go.

The Red Balloon (Albert Lamorisse 1956) was a huge success in its day on both sides of the Atlantic. And deservedly so: it is 34 minutes of magic. Such a simple idea: a balloon which follows a little boy, and the incidents to which this leads. Yes, there is an element of loss and triumph at the close, but the difference between this and the glibness of the Hollywood ending is that here triumph is earned by what comes before. The DVD released in the past month or so is of excellent quality, too.

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