Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998)

Modern Traditions The film, Kirikou et la Sorciere was written and directed by Michel Ocelot in 1998. The film is animated which allows very controversial issues to be brought to light. The film, available in French and English, is an authentic West African story that dares to balance tradition and modernity. The significance of this film is very important in the 21st century, because we must remember the past as well as build a bright future for all mankind. The focus of the film surrounds traditions in West Africa that run very deep, and establish modernity as a dark scary monster that ruins traditions. In the film, the idea of the coexistence of tradition with modernity is made possible as the colors and lighting slowly begin to blend until a balance is reached and then it happens right before your eyes modern traditions are achieved. The balance of tradition and modernity is an ongoing lifelong process; this film is another step towards the beauty that can be achieved when the balance is completed. The execution of the lighting in the film was deliberately dark in the beginning of the film, and in the end of the film the lighting was purposely bright. The film is able to bring to light the horrible oppression suffered by many African societies through its distinctive lighting, and a symbolic cast of characters. The hero and protagonist in the film, Kirikou represents the journey taken to stop the evil and save his town. Evil is represented through a powerful jewel studded sorciere named Karaba, she represents modernity, and she is symbolic of the villain in the hero's journey according to Jung. The film was very successful in proving the world is a better place when forgiveness is in your heart. Kirikou was able to save Karaba from the thorn in her back which allowed her to be free from suffering, agony, and pain. The beginning of the story may have been dark and dreary, however in they all lived happily ever after. A specific audience To which this film would appeal would be college level adults eager to have equality and traditions be a part of their lives.

Kirikou and the Sorceress is a wonderfully exciting adventure tale about a young hero and his determination to turn evil into good. This is not your typical run-of-the-mill hero story, the likes of Thor, Hercules, etc... but instead the hero of this comes in a smaller package and full of good morals. Karaba, is a evil sorceress that torments Kirikou's native people by eating their men, stealing their gold, and drying up their water. The native people's only hope a new born baby with the heart of a giant, Kirikou. Because of Kirikou's small stature he is able to see the world differently than his fellow natives. Always questioning why Karaba deemed it necessary to be so evil, Kirikou, set out to not only free his people but free Karaba from her torture too. Although, Kirikou is a delight to watch for its surface presentation. The true meaning of Kirikou can only be seen metaphorically. Karaba represented modernity and Kirikou tradition. The men that were eaten were not in fact eaten but consumed by the idea of modernity and its offerings. Kirikou, when he defeated Karaba by pulling the thorn out of her back no only defeated the evil but showed that tradition has more power than modernity and that the two can co-exist. The metaphorical layers of this film in my opinion is what makes it an instant classic. Anybody that is tired of Disney-fied versions of a so-called hero should and will enjoy this movie. It shows that it does not matter what size you are but rather how big your heart is. I highly recommend this movie and I, myself, am very glad I took time to watch, understand, and enjoy this movie.

Kirikou et la Sorciere was about an infant that had to fight the Sorceress in order to save his village. He uses courage to do so and he showed that size didn't matter. The most interesting theme of the movie was tradition VS modernity.In the movie Kirikou's village was one of the major settings. The village was very traditional. The men were the brave ones and the women were the scarred home makers. The women took over the care of the home and the children. The men went to fight the Sorceress. The men fought the Sorceress to prove themselves like the men in Kirikou's family did. The women in the village wore very traditional clothing too. They didn't wear shirts or shoes, but they did wear long wrap skirts around their waists. The men only wore short skirts. The village lighting was bright and warm.Another major setting was the Sorceress's land. Outside of the Sorceress's hut there were modern fetishes that protected the hut and the Sorceress. They were very modern. They were like robots. The Sorceress also wore a lot of Jewelry. She had a lot of gold because she took it away from the villagers. She was brave and strong like a man which isn't traditional in the village. At first she also didn't want to marry which again isn't traditional. She wore a wrap like the people in the village but it was gold instead of the earthy tones of the women's skirts in the village. The Sorceress's land was light in a way that looked dark and cold.In the end tradition wins. Kirikou returns to the village with the Sorceress. He makes her his girlfriend. She gives into tradition because she wants to be with a man instead of by herself like she used to. The men that the Sorceress "ate" were also freed and they returned to the village to the waiting women. The Sorceress isn't as powerful as she had been. She was able to make Kirikou a man, but that was about it. She was a woman so traditionally she would make her significant other a man. Other than that she had no power like the women in the village. The Sorceress gives up modernity and returns to the traditional village. The whole story is very interesting because of the theme of modernity VS tradition. I would recommend this film to anyone person interested in films that take a closer look at the struggle between tradition and modernity. All together the movie was very enjoyable because of the themes and because of the comical dialect. I will be watching more movies like this in the future.

Deep in Africa, a child is born named Kirikou who is very wise and courageous. He is different from the other village children as an infant being very small. In the movie Kirikou et la sorciere , there is many references to fairy tales , and can also be compared to American ones. The main character, Kirikou is on a voyage to see his grandfather because the boy has many questions about himself and Karaba. Karaba is the evil sorceress that is out to get Kirikou. In the film he has many tests along his journey that is opposed upon him. The positive message about the film is all of the tests he overcame without killing anything. In the end after meeting with his grandfather, he learns many things about himself and Karaba. He figures out she is not so evil, and cures her and him with a fairytale like ending mixed with African traditions, which make this film one to watch over and over.