CINEkids International Children's Film Series
A tender, poignant, and visually stunning story about the healing power of human connection.
The world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a deep attachment to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family’s idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan. Adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb and brought to life in the completely original animated style of directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han Jin Kuang. [77 min; animated; French and Japanese with English subtitles]
"It’s a gorgeous piece of animation to consume. It envelopes the viewer." — Michael Frank, The Film Stage
"The film feels at times like Terrence Malick meets Hayao Miyazaki for tykes, combining playful subjectivity with surreal flights of fancy. But it also maintains a narrative throughline that’s simple enough for any kid to follow, showing how its titular heroine literally emerges from her bubble to discover the pleasures and dangers of real life." — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter
"The film reminds us that so long as we stoke the fires of memory, we’ll never lose the people, places, and experiences that have made us." — Zachary Lee, MovieWeb
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
