Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary (2020) User Reviews

"That you're tired of yourself and all of your creations,Won't you come see me, Queen Jane."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 22 November 2020]

After being left breathless by Wolfwalkers (2020-also reviewed) I decided to catch the final movie in the Manchester Animation Festival line-up. Curious over this being a French take of a Western, I got set to meet Calamity.

View on the film:

Revealing in the Q & A after the screening of wanting to build on the style of his 2015 feature film debut Long Way North, co-writer/(with Sandra Tosello & Fabrice de Costil) director Remi Chaye goes to the Wild West with a immaculate "Outline-less" style of animation, where the lack of said outline allows Calamity to become fully immersed in the bright blue skyline.

Backed by Jonathan Morali's shimmering score, the oil painting design gives the smooth hand-drawn animation a richness, with colours popping as Calamity rides into town via stealth, getting swept up in grainy browns across the rural outback, when Calamity's true identity is untangled.

Whilst based upon a number of biographies on Jane, the writers brilliantly hold back from doing a quick-draw of the legend, instead taking the cowboy boots off all the men who believe people should know their place. Janes thrillingly kicks back by cutting her hair and rebelling against all the cowboys who attempt to stop her gaining self-confidence and going against the grain in becoming the legendary Calamity Jane.

An empowering film with the looks of a fun adventure film

[jay-ros · 8/10 · 7 March 2021]

Supported by a daring visual touch with strong acid lively colors , "Calamity" offers a subtle script that goes deeper than the simple hollow messages like "be yourself" that can be found in a lot of films aimed at children... Instead, "Calamity" shows the different levels of oppression in a society through the archetypes of the American West, with authority figures and victimes often taking turns, one becoming the other... Martha Jane/Calamity being the anomaly in the machine, subverting social codes : when the whole world is governed by codes and uniforms, why not go on your own code and invent your own personal identity ? This way, the film gives a strong empowering look on life and identities, a good message for girls and boys alike.

Remi Chaye is back at directing again.

[zachmosley · 8/10 · 17 July 2022]

I really wanted to find somewhere to watch this movie online, and I finally did! I really liked this movie, but it wasn't as good as Long Way North in my opinion. The humour was pretty good and some characters were decent. Sadly there's no English dub yet.

A moving masterpiece !

[klouk-23096 · 10/10 · 4 February 2021]

Calamity is definitely one of my favorites cartoons! The graphic style is unique and the story is beautiful! It looks like a moving painting! The message is great! it totally deserves its Annecy award!

Wonderful transformation story

[MiguelAReina · 9/10 · 9 February 2021]

The legend of Calamity serves to build a film of great formal beauty, in the creation of landscapes full of color and an unlimited horizon. With a solid script that creates an entertaining story and endearing characters, Calamity is also a vindication of women in a man's world, where the disguise builds her own personality. It's a story of transformation from girl to woman and from woman to myth.

A historical masterpiece

[calahao · 10/10 · 20 January 2024]

Calamity has merits both as a biopic as well as an artistic excellence.

On the animation side of things, the visuals are absolutely pheomenal, utilising a type of 2D animation that resembles a moving painting. There are no lines, going through the Samurai Jack style of utilising colors only. The occasional addition of CGI is the only part where the movie doesn't excell as it is notable.

In terms of historical accuracy, this movie beats several previous "inspired by a real story" animated features I shall not name. True, there are embellishments, but the sequence of events is true enough to history. As a consequence, the movie feels a bit random with only a thread of cohesive narrative, as real life stories tend to do. It by no means shies away from the sexism of its time, making Martha a rather sympathetic person without it feeling forced.

Overall a must see.

Beautiful yet so boring

[wlandezw · 1/10 · 8 February 2022]

Oh my god, what did they do to Calamity Jane?

In the first place it has nothing to do with the historical character apart from her name; the main character is so annoying that it seems that I am watching Dennis the Menace.

Always so angry and upset.

Yes, the animation is so beautiful but don't use her name in vain.