Year: 1996
Country:
France
Run Time:
80 minutes
Francois Truffaut proposed that children existed in a sort of 'state of grace,' but does MONDO indeed depict a child, or something mroe? In the seaside town of Nice, Mondo appears, a boy with no family, home, or schooling, and volunteering zero details regarding his origin. He only has his name - and the ability to make quick friends among the city's outcasts and neglected. Mondo learns about the alphabet (" 'A' is a fly with its wings folded back") and faraway places from a landlocked sailor. He finds gentleness in a homeless man. He's taught tricks by a street magician. He finds shelter with a Vietnamese immigrant. Exquisite photography captures both the delicate beauty of Mondo's perspective, and the prefab mass-consumer sterility of the modern society encroaching upon him. The reverie-like, elemental tale is accompanied by a terrific soundtrack - world beat, naturally. In French with English subtitles.
- Charles Cassady
Screenplay
Tony Gatlif (based on the short story by J.M.G. Le Clezio)
Director
Tony Gatlif
Producer
Michele Ray Gavras
Cinematography
Eric Guichard
Editing
Nicole Berckmans
Principal Cast
Ovidiu Balan, Pierrette Fesch, Philippe Petit, Jerry Smitth
Shadow Distribution
P.O. Box 945
Waterville, ME 04903
tel: (207) 872 5111
fax: (207) 872 5502
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