Le Roi et l'oiseau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Le Roi et l'oiseau | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Paul Grimault |
| Music by | Wojciech Kilar |
| Cinematography | Gérard Soirant |
| Editing by | Paul Grimault |
| Release date(s) | November 5, 1983 (USA) |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| IMDb profile | |
Le Roi et l'oiseau (The King and the Mockingbird), 1980, directed by Paul Grimault. Begun in 1948 as The Sheperdess and the Chimney Sweep; cited by the Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki as an influence.
Contents |
[edit] Production
Originally called La Bergère et le Ramoneur (The Shepherdess and the Chimneysweep). Grimault began it in 1948 and it was highly anticipated, but Grimault’s partner André Sarrut showed the film unfinished in 1952, against Grimault’s wishes. This caused a rift between partners and a stop in production. In 1967, Grimault got possession of the film and was able to complete it under a new title, Le Roi et l'Oiseau (there are many names for it in English that have been used in various releases, including: The King and the Bird, The King and the Mockingbird, The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird and The King and Mr. Bird) (1980).
[edit] Plot
The huge kingdom of Takicardia is ruled by a king under the unwieldy title of Charles V + III = VIII + VIII = XVI. He’s a heartless ruler, hated by his people as much as he hates them. The king is fond of hunting, but is unfortunately cross-eyed – not that anyone would dare acknowledge this in front of him, as the numerous statues and paintings that adorn the palace and the land show. Occasionally the king does hit his target though, notably the wife of the bird, known only as L’Oiseau, the narrator of the story who takes pleasure in taunting the terrible king at every opportunity.
In his secret apartment, the king dreams of the beautiful Shepherdess whose painting he keeps on his wall, but the Shepherdess is in love with the Sweep whose hated portrait is on the opposite wall. At night the paintings come to life and attempt to escape from the palace, but are pursued by a non-cross-eyed painting of the king that also has come to life, deposed the real king and has taken his place. He orders the capture of the Shepherdess and the Sweep, but L’Oiseau is there to help when called upon. They are pursued to the depths of the Lower City where the inhabitants have never seen the light of the sun and strange creatures and bat-police take up their chase.
[edit] Reception
It has been called one of the greatest French animated films.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Noel Megahey (December 12, 2003). Le Roi et L'Oiseau. DVD Times. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.
 |
This animated film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
