online catalogueFeature Films for Children

The Oddsockeaters

Galina Miklínová | Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia | 2016 | 83 min

Appropriate for children over 6

The film is an adaptation of the best-selling book of the same name by Czech writer, poet and librettist Pavel Šrut. The book has two sequels, was translated into many languages and won the Magnesia Litera Book of the Decade Award in the category of books for children. Its main heroes are small invisible creatures called the Oddsockeaters who live alongside humans in their households. The Oddsockeaters eat socks, but they follow the rule saying that they should eat “only one from each pair.” The film was directed by Galina Miklínová who has helped the book to achieve immense success with her original illustrations. The film tells an adventurous gangster story of two rival Oddsockeater gangs and a clash of two generations and different moralities in a world not unlike ours, but does it with sophisticated humour without forcing it upon the viewers. The main hero is the kindly but naïve Oddsockeater Hihlík who, after the death of his grandfather, joins the mob family of his uncle Padre.  When a rival gang kidnaps his cousin, it’s time for a rescue mission. The film uses captivating 3D computer animation – while CGI often seems empty, sterile, and characters from one film resemble characters from another, the Oddsockeaters boast stylized visuals – from expressions through textures to background.

The Girl without Hands

Sébastien Laudenbach | France | 2016 | 76 min

Appropriate for children over 12

This film is inspired by one of the classical Grimms’ fairy tales. In hard times, a desperate miller makes a deal with the Devil. In exchange for immense wealth, the miller unwittingly promises his only daughter to the Devil. However, the girl is so pure that the Devil cannot take her. The miller, blinded by gold, even tries to help the Devil to complete their deal. After several attempts, the girl is deprived of her hands and then escapes home. Her faith in life is, however, stronger than her despair and she finds herself at a castle and eventually marries a prince who is enchanted by her purity. But the shape-shifting Devil is constantly at her heels so the girl must flee once again… This symbol-filled film refers to the deepest parts of the human subconscious and the characters in fact represent various elements of the human soul. The film is an impressive portrayal of the principles of good and evil and the light and dark sides of our personalities in an eternal struggle for power. Its artistic style is also very daring; the authors work only with hints of characters and settings, and yet, the clusters of lines give a true picture of what they want to express. Despite their transparency and visual simplicity, the characters have powerful and engaging personalities.

My Life as a Zucchini

Claude Barras | Switzerland, France | 2016 | 66 min

Appropriate for children over 6

After his mother’s sudden death, a nine-year-old boy nicknamed Zucchini ends up in an orphanage. At first, he feels lonely, but later realizes that he’s not. There are Simon, Ahmed, Jujube Alice, Béatrice and also Camille with whom he falls head over heels in love. Each of the children has their own dark story, but their cheerfulness prevails over their sad past. The main heroes of the film are depicted at an age when they discover the world and learn how to deal with it. On the path to happiness, a group of friends and first love play important roles. The boy finds a mentor and tutor in the local policeman who helps him to overcome every obstacle. The film is a perfect example of excellent modern puppet animation where the stylization of the characters doesn’t weaken the plot and its authenticity. The film has already won several awards – it won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the Annecy Film Festival, it was screened in Cannes and also voted the Best European Animated Film of 2016. My Life as a Zucchini is the feature debut of the renowned producer and director Claude Barrase who specializes in stop-motion animation. The Anifilm audiences have already had a chance to see some of his films such as Chamber 69 (Chambre 69, 2012) and Land of the Heads (Au Pays des Têys , 2008).

Molly Monster

Ted Sieger | Germany, Switzerland, Sweden | 2016 | 72 min

Appropriate for children over 3

A small dragon-like creature named Molly Monster is a popular character from a TV series which was adapted into a feature film. This charming film was made for the youngest audiences. For a long time, Molly was an only child who enjoyed the limitless attention of her parents, but her life suddenly changes as her sibling is about to hatch. Molly is looking forward to becoming a big sister, but she can’t imagine what it is actually going to be like. She will have to put up with her new role in the family and understand that mom and dad are here not only for her sake. The pain she is experiencing is confusing and catches her by surprise. The situation is reflected in her relationship with Edison, a living toy and her best friend, who is also afraid that he will lose his place in the family. The adventure starts when Molly sets out to see her parents on an island where children are hatched and where the eggs need to be placed. Molly and Edison get lost on the way, stray into the Wild Mountains, experience many adventures and in the end come to realize that they have become independent. The graphic style of the film is very playful and understandable for children – what is spooky is also humorous and what is dangerous always turns out just fine.