Favourable reviews for Max & Co
The animated feature Max & Co [+see also:
trailer
film profile] was released to critical acclaim a few days ago in Switzerland, Belgium and France, as well as in Russia.
Admittedly, some have lamented certain weaknesses of the screenplay, but the film by young Swiss directors Samuel and Frédéric Guillaume has received an enthusiastic reception from Paris to Brussels.
In France, Studio talks of "a masterpiece" that "is unique in its genre" emphasising that "the directors subtly explore political and social issues". According to Le Monde, "the Guillaume brothers manage to strike a balance between makeshift creativity and sophistication to bring to life a magic and invented world, which fills you with wonder, just as fairground attractions used to do in bygone days".
Télérama comments: " …with its latex characters full of life, its slimy CEO, its learned madman, and its brave and cunning hero, this ‘politically engaged’ village chronicle is nonetheless highly entertaining, comical and colourful, and appeals to young apolitical audiences".
Les Inrockuptibles give the following verdict: "Until now, French-language animated films have been fairly unexceptional. But that may well change thanks to brothers Samuel and Frédéric Guillaume".
French journalists’ appropriation of this international co-production whose original idea, direction, executive production team (Robert Boner and Benoît Dreyer) and cinematography (Renato Berta) are Swiss, is moreover testimony to their love of the film.
The same praise is voiced in the Swiss press where, according to 24 Heures, "Brothers Sam and Fred Guillaume spice up Max & Co with a light and salutary hint of cheekiness…. [They] don’t lapse into easy conformism, avoid second-rate gags and even evoke the spectre of death".
According to La Liberté, the filmmakers "have managed brilliantly, with the help of the impeccable animation, to interweave different narrative threads (…) whilst making a few delightful allusions to Spielberg, Hitchcock and Fritz Lang".
Finally, La Libre Belgique – which devotes a full page to the film – commends its “first-rate artistic direction” and the "sumptuous film set and props".
(Translated from French)
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