Selected in the “ghost” selection of the Cannes Film Festival in 2020, Josep is the first feature film signed by Aurel, a cartoonist. Already winner of several honors (prize for best animated film at the European Film Awards; same award at the Césars ceremony), this beautiful animated feature film stands out as much in its form as in its content.
Taking an interest in a less well-known page of recent French history, as is also the artist to whom he pays homage, Aurel tackles through the singular career of Josep Bartolí, which took place eight decades ago, themes that still resonate very loudly in today’s world.
Having called on Jean-Louis Milesi, Robert Guédiguian’s usual collaborator, to write the screenplay for his feature film, the director thus offers a story that travels between the present and the past, a dying grandfather finally finding his grandfather’s home. teenage son an attentive ear to deposit his memories. The story does not, however, avoid a few more floating moments.
Beyond its historical relevance, Josep is also a wonderful tribute to the profession of draftsman, to this ability to summarize a situation in just a few pencil strokes. This, moreover, is the approach taken by Aurel on the formal level, whereas he himself claims to offer here a “drawn” rather than “animated” film. The power of graphic art, and its power of evocation, then becomes all the more obvious and concrete.
Indoors
Animation Film
Josep
Aurel
With the voices of Sergi López, Bruno Solo and David Marsais
1 h 16