April and the Extraordinary World
12/01/17 Filed in: Amazon Prime
It was my birthday on Tuesday and we sat down to watch a film of my choice on Amazon Prime. Based on reviews I chose this French animated film that has the appearance of the bande dessinée comic books that are popular in France, and a story line that it well fitted to a comic strip. We are treated to an alternative world that is the result of a failed scientific experiment in the time of Napoleon III that results in his demise. The development of a serum to make the Emperor's troops invincible creates instead talking animals and two talking reptiles that escape the explosion that finished him off.
The story recommences in 1931. Napoleon V now rules and all the renowned scientists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries have disappeared. This alternative world has not, therefore, benefitted from their discoveries, and steam power is the prevalent technology. We are introduced to a young girl called April, who watches her parents try to recreate the invincibility serum, but the authorities want to get their hands on it and the resulting chase ends tragically with her parents' death within a strange black storm cloud.
By 1941 April has grown up and takes up the challenge of the serum, working in a hidden laboratory in the head of a statue. But she is still pursued by the authorities. She has a cat, Darwin, a speaking cat of course. She eventually develops the serum and tries it on Darwin, who is seriously unwell, but it doesn't seem to work. Thinking Darwin has died, in anger she throws things about the lab, among which is a snow globe given to her by her mother, but which actually was filled with the original serum. Darwin licks a bit of the leaking liquid and revives.
The story recommences in 1931. Napoleon V now rules and all the renowned scientists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries have disappeared. This alternative world has not, therefore, benefitted from their discoveries, and steam power is the prevalent technology. We are introduced to a young girl called April, who watches her parents try to recreate the invincibility serum, but the authorities want to get their hands on it and the resulting chase ends tragically with her parents' death within a strange black storm cloud.
By 1941 April has grown up and takes up the challenge of the serum, working in a hidden laboratory in the head of a statue. But she is still pursued by the authorities. She has a cat, Darwin, a speaking cat of course. She eventually develops the serum and tries it on Darwin, who is seriously unwell, but it doesn't seem to work. Thinking Darwin has died, in anger she throws things about the lab, among which is a snow globe given to her by her mother, but which actually was filled with the original serum. Darwin licks a bit of the leaking liquid and revives.
In the final stages of the story the escaped reptiles reappear as intelligent beings that have abducted all the famous scientists and put them to work, and who have plans for the invincibility serum. April's encounter with these creatures reveals other surprises as she, along with her friend Julius, try to prevent the reptiles from carrying out their devilish plan.
This is not a film for everybody. If you're into things like Tintin you may enjoy it, and I'm sure that it would be enjoyed by children although the subtitles may not be welcomed. Rotten Tomatoes gives a 98% approval from the critics and 80% from audiences, which can't be bad.
April is voiced by none other than Marion Cotillard. The French title is Avril et le monde truqué, which translates as April and the Rigged World: i.e. rigged in the sense of corrupt dealings.
This is not a film for everybody. If you're into things like Tintin you may enjoy it, and I'm sure that it would be enjoyed by children although the subtitles may not be welcomed. Rotten Tomatoes gives a 98% approval from the critics and 80% from audiences, which can't be bad.
April is voiced by none other than Marion Cotillard. The French title is Avril et le monde truqué, which translates as April and the Rigged World: i.e. rigged in the sense of corrupt dealings.