Kirikou and the Men and Women

Synopsis

The third film by celebrated French animator Michel Ocelot about the exploits of the irrepressible young Kirikou, a feisty infant with a big heart, follows his adventures as he uses his wits to save his fellow villagers from a host of problems—including the threats of an evil sorceress. Told through the eyes of Kirikou’s grandfather, the Wise Man who lives in the Forbidden Mountain, the stories mix history, fable, and humor to teach important lessons about courage, self-belief, and tolerance.

Cast

Romann Berrux: Kirikou

Awa Sene Sarr: Karaba

Jessica Tougloh: Madela (Kirikou's mother) / The Dancer

Pierre Poudewa: Kirikou's Grandfather

Sabine Pakora: Monkuga (the Strong Woman) / Neutral

Umbañ U Kset and Pascal Nzonzi: Aboulou (the Old Man)

Jean Landruphe Diby: Apo (Kirikou's uncle) / The Fetish on the Roof / The Talking Fetishes / The Dancer

Evelyne Pèlerin-Ngo Maa: The Griot

Rissa Wanaghil: Anigourran

Elika Bozorgi: The Big Girl

Gary Mihaileanu: The Big Boy

Antoinette Gomis: Izari (the Thin Woman)

Eythan Solomon: The Little One / Cube

Lola Giovanetti: Pompon

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release in France on 3, Kirikou and the Men and the Women received generally positive reviews from critics. While the graphics, animation, and soundtrack were unanimously praised, there were sometimes differing opinions about Michel Ocelot's ability to renew himself in this third film focused on Kirikou.

The visual universe, animation, and music were still appreciated: Le Parisien described the film as ''an animation, graphics, and music still as enchanting'', while Ouest-France said it was ''beautiful work, accomplished and delicate. The specialized cinema magazine Positif noted that ''The rhythm, the golden colors of Kirikou's universe suit this filmmaker (Michel Ocelot) wonderfully, in an expression of fullness that warms the heart''. Ouest-France and Le Monde appreciated the use of 3D to create depth effects on several planes rather than volume, a technique already employed by the director in his previous film, Tales of the Night.

The five stories are mostly considered successful, though not without some differences of opinion. According to Noémie Luciani from Le Monde, ''in this second series of tales derived from ''Kirikou and the Sorceress'', the smallest of animated heroes is not idle, Michel Ocelot's imagination remains inexhaustible, and the result is once again a delight'', with the five stories ranging ''from musical fable to moral tale''. According to Le Parisien, ''[Kirikou's] mischief, his quick actions, but also and above all his philosophy, his wisdom, and his open-mindedness never cease to captivate the viewer, young or old'', especially since the whole ''sends beautiful messages about racism or love''. In La Croix, Arnaud Schwartz finds the five stories ''still as delightful'', with increasing intensity throughout the film and stressing the themes of welcoming the stranger and the transmission through storytelling. Some critics, however, were more skeptical: in Télérama, Cécile Mury thinks that ''even the most ardent ''Kirikou'' fan might find some rather trivial stories a bit long'', while Romain Blondeau, in Les Inrockuptibles, finds that ''Michel Ocelot chain together five generally uninspired nursery rhymes with no narrative link or sense of rhythm''.

The ability of this third installment to renew the Kirikou universe has elicited mixed reviews. The daily newspaper Le Monde is convinced. In the specialized review Les Cahiers du cinéma, Thierry Méranger judges that ''Beyond the play of masks that identifies the creator with his character, it is indeed his ability to renew a tested success that gives strength to the film.''