From penguins to a fox
Filed under: Documentary, Drama, Family Films, Newsstand
French director Luc Jacquet, who exploded into the world's consciousness at the helm of
a little picture called March of the Penguins, has revealed
that his follow up will again focus on nature, albeit with a fiction story mixed in. The film, which will be called
The Fox & the Child, tells the story of a young girl and her relationship with, erm, a fox. (Apparently
Jacquet met a fox when he was 10, and that experience is at the root of this project. No lie.) The film will combine
footage of animals in the wild with dramatic, fictional sequences, and will be driven by a voice-over by the young girl
as an adult.The Fox & the Child will start shooting in March, but isn't expected to be ready for released until late 2007. As vaguely silly as the movie sounds, it actually reminds me a bit of 1988's wonderful The Bear (also directed by a Frenchman), which used footage of (trained) animals sort of in the wild to tell a fictional story - if his film can be done with similar lightness and charm, Jacquet could have another quiet little success on his hands.










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-23-2006 @ 3:27PM
Elliott said...
This is why I love Cinematical: First, the pic for this page makes me smile. Second, when trying to discover its origins, I notice that you call it "not cute fox". And finally, you are optimistic about a film that sounds like a cross between Jungle Book and Once Upon a Hamster. Awesome!
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 2:59PM
Holly said...
Yawn.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 3:40PM
Kyra said...
One would think that someone who writes for a living would know the difference between the words revel as in to party and what the writer apparently meant to say reveal as in to show or uncover something. Of course the editor or whoever approved the column should have seen that also.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 3:43PM
Martha Fischer said...
I'm afraid we do make the occasional (ahem) mistake. Thanks, Kyra - it's fixed.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 3:47PM
Jenniferjane said...
I can't wait for this one to come out! The March of the Penguins was so refreshing. Finally, movies are actually being made on real living life, and it is about time that we all recognize how wonderful nature is. To appreciate nature, animals and simplistic beauty enhances our lives and we should all feel blessed that our world has such wonder. Let's see more films made like this on a regular basis!
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 3:56PM
Michele said...
I love taking my kids to movies like this. We always enjoy animated movies, but sometimes you need to see something with a little deeper message. You just can't find enough family movies anymore that don't include bad language or sexual innuendo. I loved Penguins, and will definately see this one too.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 3:58PM
judy lowe said...
march of the penguins was one the best shows ever! it was a real realty show not that stupid stuff on all the time. i have a lot of respect for the people who suffered to film the movie. im sure a film about a fox and a child would be nothing but entertaining. good luck!
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 4:09PM
Martin Morley said...
We need to have a film made about FACTORY FARMING from a calf , chick, piglet & a kids point of view . We need to show how CRUEL real life IS getting meat on the table for all of the Carnivores out there .
These cutsie films are ok, and they do raise awareness of one species , or sub species and thats great. We really need to lookat animals as a whole and realize they are smarter and more Loving & Nurturing than we give them credit for . We need to look at ALL ANIMALS as FEELING Beings and maybe we wouldnt be such harsh uncaring people.
Just my opinion, Keep up the family films, I am a Vegetarian father of 2 girls 8 & 11. , and we have a Ferret Rescue dealing with abused & unwanted animals . ADOPT a RESCUE ANIMAL Today. They will LOVE you for it!
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 4:09PM
BreAnna said...
I think the movie will be very cute and hopefully refreshing. It sounds to me right now a lot like the scene with "le renard" (or in English the fox) in the book Le Petit Prince...which is a treasure itself. I will be looking for it in theatres when the time comes. :)
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 4:09PM
Kelly said...
I think that this sounds like a great family film. My daughter enjoyed the March of the Penguins and she is a teen! I hope that other film makers will take notice of what families want to see.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 4:28PM
Peggy said...
I don't think the movie sounds silly at all. I think it sounds quite awesome. The picture of the fox is adorable. By the way, one cannot edit without yawning every now and again, so maybe some of your readers should get together???
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 5:16PM
Samantha said...
I loved march of the penguins. I am looking foreward to the movie about foxes.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 5:37PM
Joe said...
I read a comment by Martin Moley. I have to concur with his sentiment. I challenge all those people who tear up when a penguin or whale or dog suffers and think about all animals.
All animals feel pain and have emotions.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 5:52PM
Pam said...
March of the Penguins was wonderful!!! I was given the DVD for Christmas, which gives you a behind the scenes look at what it took to make the film. FANTASTIC! Looking forward to the new film.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 5:55PM
Kenneth said...
I am soooo eccentric
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 6:05PM
debbie nader said...
I dragged my kids to see Penguin March and they didnt want to leave when it was over (Do people still sit in the theatres all day?) We had foxes in our back yard and my kids loved to watch the parents take care of the babies, we cant wait to see this movie if it will be as in depth as the Penguins. Got to agree with Martin though, a movie dealing with how we treat the animals we eat would be enlightening.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 6:26PM
Jenny said...
I cannot wait to see this movie. My husband and I have a pet Red Fox, who gets along wonderfully with our 2.5 year old little girl. We will see this movie opening night!! What a great idea for a movie!! Can't wait!!
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 7:06PM
Jim said...
Sounds very nice. I loved the Penguin DVD. As to "Factory Farming" -- I guess it's the new dirty word for the PC Veggie heads, but farms have fed the world and if your going to survive as a farmer you need to be efficient. Eat your veggies and leave us Omnivores alone, we don't want to live on sprouts.
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 7:09PM
Cooper said...
I feel bad for thi children of the dude who is a vegetarian and who wants their to be a movie about the way the american people eat. Eat a slice of veal and you will finally realize why god made cows and why he made us carnivours. Now stop being such a libral prick and cowboy up. Raise your children the right way. Eat meat
Reply
1-26-2006 @ 7:19PM
Bambi said...
Bravo to Mr Morley & Joe! It's easy to admire nature & animals and yet ignore the pain & suffering caused to them by our habits. If most people saw a slaughter house video, we would have a lot less meat eaters. Knowledge is power....learn where your food comes from. You will be happier & healthier and so will the animals.
Reply