Commentary 10 Mar 2009 08:09 am
Michel Ocelot, 2 Features & Kirk Douglas
– This past weekend, Michel Ocelot was in town for the NYInternational Children’s Film Foundation screening of his feature, Azur and Asmar. Candy Kugel had a wonderful Saturday night dinner for Michel, and it was nice to see him. He gave a gift of a DVD just released in Europe. It’s a collection of his short films. He finally was able to gather the rights to make them available. The DVD was region 2 PAL, but played nicely on my computer.
They’re exquisite hand-made gems, as was expected from this brilliant filmmaker.
Michel Ocelot: Les Trésors Cachés (Hidden Treasures) comes in an absolutely stunning package and features commentaries (albeit all in French) as well as 11 short films.
I’m not sure if there will be an English release of the DVD, but it’s worth having right now. It’ll give you a chance to practice your French while watching some beautiful animated films.
Here are a couple of frame grabs:
(Click any image to enlarge.)
Above left and above that: The 3 Inventors
Above right: The Insensitive Princess
Earth Intruders: A music video for Bjork
- It’s 1940 again.
Yesterday’s NYTimes had a good review comparing two newly refurbished features: Pinocchio and Gulliver’s Travels. The Fleischers always seemed on the short end of the stick, and tying Gulliver’s rerelease to the same date as Pinocchio, probably isn’t helpful for sales . . . or reviews.
- I noticed in yesterday’s LA Times that there was a review of a one-man show starring Kirk Douglas. “Before I Forget” is a review by Mr. Douglas of his own career in 80 minutes.
Back in the 70s, I was a headstrong young man. I’d just gotten out of the service, immediately found my way into a film company which led to working for my hero, John Hubley. I was happy and full of pep.
One weekend while visiting an exhibit of Chaim Soutine at a larger gallery on 57th Street I was aware that Kirk Douglas was in the room with another gentleman. It filled up the gallery experience, and when I was ready to leave I did. Just before the doors close on the elevator, Kirk Douglas rushed on with his friend. For some reason, he and I locked eyes. A very small staring contest. He broke it. Of course, I could have been a mad man ready to assassinate Spartacus.
I left the experience exhilarated. Without saying a word, I’d communicated with a very real star. One of the fun bits of living in NYC.
Years later I was asked to direct a small filming of Michael Douglas giving a message for the Heartland Film Festival in Indiana. I went to his home, got to actually communicate with him, and wisely kept my story of his father to myself.
If I were living in LA, I’d be down to the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City in a NY minute. Only $25, how could you pass it up? One of the last of the REAL stars.
on 10 Mar 2009 at 5:08 pm 1.Chris said …
Azur + Asmar is a fantastic film and well worth seeing on the big screen.
After doing a quick check on amazon, it looks like his other movies have finally found american distibution.
on 11 Mar 2009 at 1:22 pm 2.Steve Segal said …
I met Mr. Ocelot here in San Francisco at a screening of Azur & Asmar, which is a lovely CG fairy tale film with undercurrents of acceptance and superstition. It looks like the film will soon be available on DVD.
He mentioned that his short films are available at Amazon.fr (your link, thanks for the heads up about it playing on your computer), and he didn’t think it would be released in the USA. I remember that his wonderful short, The Three Inventors (the cover illustration) was included in a theatrical package like the Tournee of Animation, so it would be an excellent candidate for an American release. He actually brought some of the Inventors figures with him; what a delight to see those delicate figures.