Watch: Trailer for ‘Adama,’ Animated Film About West African Boy in Europe During WWI

ShadowAndAct has unveiled the official English-language trailer for Adama , a French animated film that follows the journey of a young West African boy through Europe at the height of World War I.

Directed by Simon Roubi and voiced by French-Malian child actor Azize Abdoulaye Diabaté , Adama ‘s title character embarks on an unexpected quest to find his older brother who was taken from their village to serve as a rifleman with the French army. See the synopsis below:

In 1916, 12 year-old Adama lives in a remote village in West Africa, sheltered by the cliffs. Out, beyond, lies the land of breaths, the kingdom of wicked spirits hungry for war. When Samba, his elder brother, suddenly vanishes from the village, Adama decides to set off in search of him. Accompanied first by Abdou, a tragically lucid griot, then by Maximin, a street urchin who is his own negative twin, he travels to the frontlines in order to free his brother and see his own initiatory journey through.

‘Adama’ (2015)

The feature’s visual aesthetic and script, written by Julien Lilti , take inspiration from Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman ‘s Golden Globe-winning animated war documentary, Waltz With Bashir .

“Adama is set in a specific historical context, but it is not a period piece,” the film’s creators told Torino Film Lab. “What matters to us is how Adama’s adventure resonates with contemporary issues. Envisioned as an initiatory trance, our film recounts Adama’s passage into adulthood and how he discovers his own uniqueness, his identity, whilst at the same time touching on the universal, humanity itself.”

‘Adama’ (2015)

Adama is produced by Philippe Aigle and Severine Lathuilliere for Naia Productions, in co-production with Pipangai Studio and France 3 Cinema.

Set for wide release on October 21, 2015 via Ocean Films , the film is screening as an Official Selection at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France this week.

[via okayafrica.com ]

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