A Town Called Panic

“‘Oh non! Mon Dieu!’ The first stop-motion animated feature selected for Cannes, A Town Called Panic — the feature version of a demented Belgian television animation sensation of the same name — brings to life a topsy-turvy world populated by cheap plastic figurines of cowboys, Indians, farmers, horses, cows, and pigs. When an attempt to surprise their pal Horse with a homemade brick barbecue for his birthday goes terribly awry, Cowboy and Indian must find a way to deal with the fifty million bricks they mistakenly ordered. Unfortunately, their effort to hide the bricks results in their house being destroyed. Trying to rebuild it, the oddball trio contends with an avalanche of bizarre obstacles, including a voyage to the centre of the Earth, a giant snowball-throwing mechanical penguin, and pointy-headed sea creatures from a parallel underwater world” (Colin Geddes, Toronto I.F.F.). “Despite a cast of 1,500 plastic toy figures, A Town Called Panic was probably made for less than it cost to produce c10 seconds of Avatar and is, in some ways, an even weirder, more ingrown, raucous fantasy” (J. Hoberman, Village Voice). Colour, 35mm, in French with English subtitles. 75 mins.

A Town Called Panic is a visual treat that we believe all ages will delight in, but please be aware that it is presented in French with English subtitles.