Noah Pfister
World Lit. Survey
Prof. Benander
Film Review: Kirikou and the Sorceress
Dircted by Michel Ocelot, Kirikou and the Sorceress was created to present viewers with fictional African folk tale.
Created as a fully animated film, Ocelot strives to create a world that is completely unrealistic but yet retains may of the true qualities of Africa. The film focus on a young baby names Kirikou who was born with the ability to walk and talk immedatly after exiting the womb. In addition, Kirikou was given tremendous speed, agility, and keen mind. Throught the film, Kirikou take it upon himself to save his village from the evil Sorceress who has been terrorizing the land. Despite the warnings and the knowledge that know one ever comes back after visiting the sorceress, Kirikou feels that it is his duty to help the village.
Using his supernatural speed and cunning abilities, Kirikou attempts to save the village children as they continually fall victom to the trapts set by the evil Sorceress. In doing so, Kirikou must battle his way through countless minions that are under the control of the Sorceress. Graphically designed after the style of Cubism, these robot like figures are always on the look out of the little Kiriou. However, given his infinate state, Kiriou has the upper hand when trying to evade his pursuers.
This film can be equated to modern westren films such as, Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. However, with its elements of partical nudity, the film is often seen at taboo here in the U.S. Originally released in 1998, the film was orginally produced using French voice acting done by West African voice actors and school kids. This element helps to show the persistant struggle with the colonial onset as popular media with French backgrounds penitrates the cultre.
Kirikou and the Sorceress is a excellent film, focusing on moral issues such as duty, honestly, and integrity. This is a wonderful animated film for all age who are interested in well directed and comical story line. The folk tale basis for the film provides a family friendly element that creates a rich moral theme and allows for traditional African views to be shard with the world. This is film however is not only limited to children. Viewers who are looking for deep cultures blast are incouraged to watch this film. The music, dance, and folk theme help to create a plot line that allows for viewer to take an inside look at west Africa as it struggles to brace itself again the ever growing threat of colonialism.
