
Gwen and the Book of Sand
- Today, Jun 8
Director: Jean-François Laguionie Run Time: 67 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 1985 Language: French
Starring: Armand Babel, Lorella Di Cicco, Michel Robin, Raymond Jourdan, Saïd Amadis
“Every bit as remarkable as FANTASTIC PLANET.” —Sight & Sound
“Why search the sand for answers? It has told us everything,” whispers Roseline, the 173-year old desert nomad narrator of Jean-François Laguionie’s unforgettable animated tale of life after the apocalypse, where hardy few survivors walk on stilts from well to well, scorpions glow like lanterns and the mysterious Makou drops giant everyday objects – forks, eyeglasses, bathtubs – from the skies. In this surreal and DUNE-esque post–post-modern landscape, our teen heroine Gwen refuses to stay silent and hide in the shadows. GWEN’s look is sublime, painted in remarkable gouache images. This is on par with Laloux’s FANTASTIC PLANET, Mamoru Oshii’s ANGEL’S EGG or any number of Miyazaki’s works as a visually stunning, otherworldly experience.