Pixilation, stop-motion and optical games workshops at the upcoming Animafest, Zagreb | Zarafa review: a boy through Mediterrenean history |
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Zarafa means giraffe, and the new animated feature film by Rémi Bezançon (dir. The first day of the rest of your life) and Jean-Christophe Lie (animator in The Triplettes of Belleville, layout artist in the Micel Ocelot sequel Kirikou and the Wild Beasts) present an all-European adventure of the boy who wanted to fulfil his promise.
Maki, a close cinematic relative of Kirikou, equally persistent but less inventive, lives under slavery in the 19th century Sudan. His escape (and his separation from his female friend) coincides with the start of his mission: to bring back the giraffe to its native land, even though Zarafa has been enlisted as a present from the Pasha of Egypt to an outrageously indulgent King of France Charles X.
The setting of the story in flashback (an old sage narrates the Maki adventure) seems to abstract the adventure suspense which is much needed, and the happy ending bears a reversal of a life condition that is too good to be miraculous.
Yet even though the quest itself seems forced, and Maki itself is a one-note character, the historical background is impressive, both visually and narratively. Bad treatment of children both in Africa and in the post-Enlightenment France is almost identical, and animal treatment as depicted in the film would make animal activists outrageously angry. Zarafa respects the historical setting, and does not ameliorate the human condition depicted.
The clear visual outlines is a treat to watch, and the epic, Lawrence-of-Arabia inspired music of Laurent Perez adds to the sentiment. Zarafa may be not as enchanting as Kirikou, but is surely interesting to watch for specific, historical reasons. Vassilis Kroustallis
SYNOPSISUnder a baobab tree, an old man tells a story to the children around him: the story of the everlasting friendship between Maki, a little boy aged 10, and Zarafa, an orphaned giraffe, a gift from the Pasha of Egypt to th King of France, Charles X. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, is instructed by the Pasha to deliver Zarafa to France. But Maki has made up his mind to do everything in his power to stop Hassan from fulfilling his mission and to bring the giraffe back to its native land – even if it means risking his own life – because he must fulfill his promise to Zarafa's late mother. During an epic journey that takes them from Sudan to Paris, passing on the way through Alexandria, Marseille and the snow-capped Alps, they have many adventures, crossing paths with the aviator Malaterre, a pair of unusual twin cows called Mounh and Sounh, and the pirate queen Bouboulina. |
