The Painting (Le Tableau)

Year: 2011
Country: FRANCE, JAPAN
Run Time: 78 minutes

A multi-hued, wildly imaginative film with a sweeping musical score, THE PAINTING will restore your faith in the power of children’s animation. Within the frame of one unfinished painting, there exist three castes of figures: the rich, fully-painted Alldunns; the poor Halfies, left unfinished by The Painter; and the stuttering Sketchies, mere suggestions of what might have been. The Alldunns shun the Halfies and persecute the Sketchies, forbidding them to take part in fancy celebrations in their castle. But when an Alldunn named Ramo refuses to give up his love for a Halfie named Claire, he is banished to a perilous forest at the edge of the known world. Ramo and their brave friend Lola escape their canvas and embark on a quest to find The Painter, who they hope will finish their picture and thus help them combat injustice. As they make their way through other paintings in the artist’s studio, the movie opens a window onto a charming world of early 20th century art. Note: This film contains brief animated nudity. (In French with subtitles) – B.B.

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