Kirikou et la sorcière (1998)

Director:

Michel Ocelot

Writer:

Michel Ocelot (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family

Tagline:

Can Kirikou save his village from a terrible curse?

Plot:

In a little village somewhere in Africa, a boy named Kirikou is born. But he's not a normal boy, because he knows what he wants very well...

Plot Keywords:

African Dance | African Tribe | Africa | Animal Human Communication | Animate Statue

Awards:

11 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Atsuko Asano	...	Kalaba (voice: Japanese version)
Ryunosuke Kamiki	...	Kirikou (voice: Japanese version)
Antoinette Kellermann	...	Karaba (voice)
Fezele Mpeka	...	Uncle (voice)
Kombisile Sangweni	...	The Mother (voice)
Theo Sebeko	...	Kirikou (voice)
Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole	...	The Old Man / Viellard (voice)

Also Known As:

Kirikou and the Sorceress (USA)
Kirikou en de heks (Belgium: Flemish title) (TV title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

France | Belgium | Luxembourg

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:G | South Korea:All | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-7/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U

Company:

Exposure Model and Talent Agency

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Michel Ocelot] [silhouettes] During the underground tunnel scenes, Kirikou is rendered as solid black silhouette with only the whites of his eyes and teeth showing. Earlier in the film, his mother is seen silhouetted against the burning hut.

Quotes:

Kirikou: [is being chased by a warthog] That was stupid of me tying the knife to my back!
[attempts to hide, but the warthog always finds him]
Kirikou: It is like he can see through the rocks!
[realization hits]
Kirikou: My scent! That's it! No use running: he smells me!

Movie Connections:

Followed by Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages (2005)

A perfect work of art

This film, all too limited in its British cinema release, is fortunately now available both on video (a mere £5.99) and on DVD from the BFI. Exquisitely designed, wholly engaging and both ethnic and universal, this African tale is equally appealing to children and adults. As well as being entertaining, it is possessed of genuine wisdom while also being unpretentious. It also has real charm as opposed to the calculated kind found in 'Amelie'. It attains all it set out to achieve and is the film I admire the most of all that I saw which were released in Britain during 2003.