My Life as a Zucchini or Ma Vie de Courgette is a French-Swiss stop-motion movie about the young orphan Zucchini and the family he makes when he goes to a foster home with other children. Directed by Claude Barras, the film has won a series of awards and was selected as the Swiss entry for Best Foreign Language Film. Thanks to GKIDS, viewers in the United States will soon be able to see Zucchini in theaters February 24th.
The English version features the voices of Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Ellen Page, and Amy Sedaris, but the original French version with English subtitles will also be offered in theaters. I really enjoyed the film in French but after watching the trailer, I’m really curious to see how it sounds in English, especially when Page sounds like a perfect fit for her character.
Here’s the synopsis:
After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age. At first, he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment.
But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own. Brought to life through striking character designs and expressive stop-motion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart. Beginning with its debut at Cannes, the film has stirred up an overwhelming response on the festival circuit, taking home top jury and audience prizes at Annecy, Melbourne and Angoulême, as it prepares to melt hearts with its U.S. debut at Sundance.
I got a chance to screen the film recently, and I can tell you I loved it and recommend it to both children and adults. The designs are whimsical and gorgeous, the story joyful and heartbreaking, and the characters full of life. You can check which theaters will play My Life as a Zucchini here.
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