Dilili in Paris

This film's art work is beautiful: both the animation and also the Paris architecture. I found myself mesmerized by the beautiful scenes.

This film also has an interesting story that can be enjoyed by adults and children, but I especially recommend it for young girls, due to its message of empowerment.

In this animation w/photo based views of Parisian art & architecture we have Dilili, a young Kanak (the indigenous peoples of New Caledonia & other SW Pacific islands), living in Paris as she teams up w/Orel, a pedaling courier, to see & meet the accomplishments of late 19th century Parisian artists, & scientists. Meanwhile, also fighting to give females equality, "instead of going through life on all fours they can rise up & go to school". We meet, see & hear Lautrec, Picasso, Pasteur, Curie, Bernhardt, Dumont, Proust, Debussy, Eiffel, Renoir, Degas, Matisse, Rousseau, Rodin, Modigliani, Manet, Gide, Colette, and many more.

A movie every girl and woman should watch, and a beautiful stroll around Paris at its best, full of artists and scientists (some of them women). Wonderfull drawing based on the style of the period and full of art deco. Interesting mix of pictures for the scenarios and drawings for the characters. Good music too. Very enjoyable and not just for kids!

First, I gave it a 6 because on my scale a 5 is a good watchable movie and a 10 is an all time masterpiece. Both the tiny character, Dilili and the film itself are incredibly charming. The little girl for her sense of wonder, amazement, inclusion, and resolve, and the film for it's airy and colorful atmosphere and the way it introduces kids to important historical artists and scientists. My first thought upon finishing it was that I need to show it to both my niece and nephew, but it's an entertaining distraction even for adults.

Michel Ocelot is one of my favourite directors, so this vote doesn't come lightly. The premise is a young girl investigating a criminal ring that kidnaps women and girls. Take a moment to imagine what happens in real life to kidnapped women and girls. Think about it. This movie does not do what you're thinking. What is does is much, much worse! I'm not exaggerating. I watched it over a year ago. I keep telling myself "maybe if I want it again, in English, I can appreciate the rest of the movie more." But I can't. I won't. The dehumanization and trauma the victims go through outways any minor positives.

And yes the positives are minor. The visuals didn't capture me the way his other films do. The main character, while strong and outspoken, has a third of her dialogue just a repetition of "pleased to meet you" or something like that. It happens a lot since the movie is also all about meeting a bunch of famous people who lived in Paris at the time. Perhaps if the rest of the movie was good I'd have finally given it another chance. Alas, I can't.

Even the epilogue in the credits, seemingly meant to give a happy ending image, was also disturbingly horrific. I just can't imagine showing this movie to a child, or anyone for that matter. I only wrote this now, because I recently started watching The Handmaids Tale, and can't decide which situation is worse. If the villains had the same level of power and control as THT, Dilili would be the worst by a landslide. That's how disturbing it is!