julianna-19

Despite the title, this film is actually an adaptation of two of Ségur's books featuring Sophie: "Les Malheurs de Sophie" and "Les Petites Filles Modèles", including about half the material in each. For whom is this film intended? Too long, slow & arty for little girls of the age of those in the film: 6-8 apart from tiny Marguerite who is younger. It's also too whimsical and infantile for most older children and adults. I suppose it would do for the J M Barries and Lewis Carrols of this world, but they may not appreciate Disney-style hedgehogs, squirrel & frog who pop up from time to time - I certainly didn't. Sometimes a character in the film addresses us personally - that's rather "arch". Twice we get anachronistic singing, as in a film from the 70s. So I won't be buying it for my grandchildren who are younger & older than Sophie & her friends. But it's pretty. All the children are well-produced and engaging. Some of the adults are strange choices, particularly Goldshifteh as Sophie's mother, who is nothing like the mother in the book. Sophie's father was a shadowy character in the book and is more so in the film. Nor can one imagine him marrying the appalling Mme Fichini, especially after Goldshifteh. While the children sleep through the rest of the film one is left wondering if it was for her money . . . ah well! I would like to hear what others think.

Not quite a biopic, this is a little slice of Céline's life during his flight to Denmark in 1945, to escape prosecution in France for collaboration. The other "clown" in the title is a handsome young Jewish-American professor at Chicago, Milton Hindus. An admirer of Céline's literary work, he has been corresponding with Céline and sending him food parcels. The film begins with Milton's arrival on a 3-week visit, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Welcomed at first, relations between the two men soon turn sour, while Céline's charming (third) wife, Lucette and Milton form a sincere friendship based on mutual respect. Céline comes over as a very nasty person, rabidly anti-semitic and often unable to control his insane rages. Physically, he is shown as a raddled, ugly man of stunted growth while the Jewish Milton is tall, slim, elegant and intelligent (if naive). The film ends with his return to America and his family, wiser and sadder - but he will publish the book he came to write (without informing Céline). By the way, the French title of the film is: "Louis-Ferdinand Céline" - the clowns phrase is a sub- title.