“Iron Boy” director Louis Clichy is happy to bring his latest animation to Cannes – even though the world’s biggest festival is a whole different universe.
“I’m glad it’s not in some ‘special category’,” he tells Variety. Sold by Playtime, “Iron Boy” premiered in Un Certain Regard, dazzling critics, hailed by Variety as “both visually dazzling and deeply personal.”
“For us animators, Cannes is a foreign world. There’s way more ego around. Also, there are still all these stereotypes about what animation is, like it being ‘over the top’ or just for children. But we can do subtle stuff too, because animators are really good actors.”
He adds: “Animation is expensive, so many people don’t want to take risks. But that’s our responsibility!”
In his film, little Christophe grows up on a farm. Life is hard there, and it requires a strong backbone – which is precisely what Christophe seems to lack. He keeps collapsing, causing minor disasters at home and at school. The solution is simple: He must wear an iron corset. At all times.
