Sprockets - 2009

SPROCKETS 2009

SPROCKETS 2009, the children’s film festival, part of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) begins its run of film starting April the 18th.  Each film is listed with age or grade recommendations to aid film selections.  Tickets are currently on sale.

For more information on ticket pricing, venue and schedule and description of each film, check the SPROCKETS website at:
http://www.sprockets.ca

SPROCKETS is an entertaining educational outing for the family.

Below are capsule reviews of films I have previewed:

CHASSEURS DE DRAGONS (DRAGON CHASERS) (France/Lux/Germ 2008) ****
Directed by Guillaume Ivernel and Arthur Qwak

There is nothing more enjoyable than a good old fairy tale – for both adults and kids.  And CHASSEURS DE DRAGONS more than delivers in all the departments from the brilliant ideas, gothic animation to the musical score.  The unlikely hero is a little girl who dreams of fighting dragons for her rich uncle.  She meets up with a trio of dragon chasers and the fun and adventure begins.  And it answers the question why the gigantic dragon hunter loves to knit - because his mother taught him.  Funny, inventive, magical and even satirical in parts, this animation is pure delight.  The English version is voiced by Forest Whitaker while the French has Vincent Linden (MOUSTACHE) in the lead.

MOZART IN CHINA (Austria/Germ/China 2008) ***1/2
Directed by Bernd Neuburger

This is a well-intentioned, well made film where west meets east and racial tolerance is taught to children at a fruitful age.  Austrian Danny is initially apprehensive at his new found Chinese friend’ Li Wei whom he had met in hospital after a football collision (can also be taken as a literal east/west collision).  Circumstances lead to Danny visiting China where he learns – as the audience also does – about a totally foreign way of living.  Yes, a little child romance in the form of Lin Lin is added in for good measure.  This is a sort of fairy tale where a journey is embarked, life lessons learnt and everyone emerges a better person.  Both puppetry portions (Li’s grandfather’s and Danny’s mother’s) are a bit awkward.

MY DAD RALPH (Canada 2008) ***
Directed by Nicholas Wong

Though the Canadian director is Chinese in origin, there is nothing really Chinese about this 12-minute short except for the beginning with a few shots of kids of various races (which includes Chinese) telling their classmates what their dads do.  So, for Zak, he proudly boats of his father’s artistic fame though the single father (who looks like a paternal version of Seth Rogen) is in reality, a house painter.  For a short, director Wong has crafted a remarkable likeable, watchable film that illustrates the fact that family is more important than fame or money.  Only complaint is the silly song that accompanies part of the film towards the end.  The theme of bring your kids to work for a day is nicely blended into the story.