Kirikou and the Sorceress

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Kirikou and the Sorceress

French movie poster
Directed by Michel Ocelot
Produced by Didier Brunner
Paul Thiltges
Jacques Vercruyssen
Written by Michel Ocelot
Starring Theo Sebeko
Antoinette Kellermann
Music by Youssou N'Dour
Editing by Dominique Lefèvre
Distributed by Gébéka Films
Release date(s) December 9, 1998
Running time 74 minutes
Language French
Budget €3.800.000 (estimated)
Followed by Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages
IMDb profile
English movie poster
English movie poster

Kirikou et la sorcière (Kirikou and the Sorceress, 1998) is a French-Belgian animated film based on an African folk tale where a newborn boy saves his village by ridding the world of Karaba, the evil sorceress. The film is directed by Michel Ocelot. It was so successful that a sequel, Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages (Kirikou and the Wild Beasts) followed in 2005, and in 2007 it was adapted into a musical stage production, Kirikou et Karaba.[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot

In a little village somewhere in Africa, a boy named Kirikou is born in a spectacular way. But he's not a normal boy, because he can speak and walk immediately after being born. He is also very determined. His mother tells him that an evil sorceress has dried up their spring and devoured all the males of the village except for one. Hence the tiny Kirikou decides to accompany the last warrior, his uncle, to visit the sorceress. Kirikou tricks the sorceress and saves his uncle. He saves the children from being kidnapped by the sorceress's boat and saves them later again from the sorceress's tree. Next, he bursts the monster who was drinking all the village's water. He then travels to ask his wise old grandfather about the sorceress, and faces many obstacles in the process. The grandfather finds that Kirikou is always asking questions, which is a good thing. The grandfather tells him that she is evil because she suffers: bad men put a poisoned thorn in her back. Kirikou manages to trick the sorceress and removes the thorn. The sorceress is cured. She kisses Kirikou and he becomes an adult. Love reigns.

[edit] Aesthetics

The Kirikou films are characterised by their flat (two-dimensional) look, as opposed to current trends in 3-D animation. The lush African colours and patterns were inspired by the works of the "naive" French painter Le Douanier Henri Rousseau. Ocelot's latest film Azur et Asmar explores the world of North African and Islamic folklore, architecture, art and calligraphy.

[edit] Cast

The cast of the French version of the film.

  • Theo Sebeko — Kirikou (voice)
  • Antoinette Kellermann — Karaba (voice)
  • Fezele Mpeka — Uncle (voice)
  • Kombisile Sangweni — The Mother (voice)
  • Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole — The Old Man/Viellard (voice)

[edit] Distributors

[edit] Distribution Controversy

The film's content of natural nudity enraged some overseas distributors. Some requested airbrushing pants on the fully naked boys and men, as well as bras for the topless women. Michel Ocelot refused; this was African culture, and he wanted to stay faithful to it. In some countries, because of the distribution fights, it wasn't released commercially until four years later.

[edit] Awards

Year Award Show Award Category Result
1999 Annecy International Animated Film Festival Grand Prix Best Animation Film won
1999 Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema Environment and Health Award won
1999 Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema Silver Castle won
1999 Chicago International Children's Film Festival Adult's Jury Award Feature Film and Video - Animation won
1999 Chicago International Children's Film Festival Children's Jury Award Feature Film and Video - Animation won
1999 Cinekid Cinekid Film Award won
1999 Oulu International Children's Film Festival C.I.F.E.J. Award won
1999 Oulu International Children's Film Festival Starboy Award nominated
2000 Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival Silver Poznan Goat Best Animation Film won
2000 Cartagena Film Festival Prize of the Children's Cinema Competition Jury Best Feature Film for Children won
2000 Montréal International Children's Film Festival Special Jury Prize Feature Film won
2002 British Animation Awards British Animation Award Best European Feature Film won
(tied with Chicken Run)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Playbill News: Animated Film "Kirikou and the Sorceress" to Become Stage Musical

[edit] External links