The screenings will be in French with English subtitles.

Born in Japan to Belgian parents, little Amélie sees the world as a place of endless wonder. With her beloved friend and companion Nishio san by her side, every day becomes a new adventure, full of mystery, humour, and wonder. But on her third birthday, one unexpected moment changes her life forever, opening the door to emotions she never knew existed.

Based on Amélie Nothomb’s best-selling autobiographical novel, The Character of Rain, Little Amélie, is a visually enchanting tale about curiosity, courage, and the healing power of human connection.

The Garden Cinema View:

This French animation is a lovingly hand-drawn immersion into life as a (very intelligent and talkative) 3-year old girl. The Japanese setting evokes child’s-eye-view anime such as Mamoru Hosoda’s Mirai or Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo, but is filtered through a loose and agreeably lo-fi art style and Eurocentric perspective. Across its brief running time Little Amélie packs several emotional punches, and some delightful flights of imagination. Deservedly Oscar-nominated, this is the best animated film since Flow.