Francine Desbiens
2021My Child, My Land
Francine Desbiens
A shocking film about antipersonnel land mines and a barbarous complacency. Every year hundreds of men, women and children are wounded or killed by antipersonnel land mines. My Child, My Land denounces the use of this hideous weapon. It particularly denounces the complicity of the industrialized nations. If such a horror exists, it is because someone has invented it, and someone else has manufactured it. Can we imagine such barbarity behind the faces of our neighbour? our father? ourselves? This hard-hitting animation film demands that we ask ourselves these questions.
My Child, My Land
Ah! vous dirai-je, maman
Francine Desbiens
In this short animation a single room is the setting for a lyrical dance through time about family roots. The objects in the room swirl, rearrange and change themselves to reflect the passing seasons, years and generations. As Victorian Christmas fantasies give way to computer-age realities, the procession of objects reaffirms the values that endure the vagaries of fashion and the ravages of time.
Variations on Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman
Les bibites de Chromagnon
Francine Desbiens
Children will delight in this introduction to primary colours and their combinations--an animated film in which little elf-like creatures make all the discoveries. They emerge from three circles painted red, yellow and blue. When they venture into a circle of another colour they find that they, too, change colour. Their every movement and posture is designed to convince and amuse.
The Little Men of Chromagnon
Dessine-moi une chanson
Francine Desbiens
In this charming animated short, a musician drops his son off at day care and returns home to work. Suddenly, the telephone rings. His son leaves a message on the answering machine, "I love you, Daddy." The father tries to concentrate on his composition, but the telephone rings throughout the day, the messages becoming more poignant. Touched by his child's love, the musician, at last, begins to play a beautiful melody on his clarinet. His imagination soars into the clouds and beyond, eventually gliding down to Earth on the beam of a spotlight, where he performs before a full audience. Every seat is occupied by his son, who sings along, "La, la, la, la..."
Draw Me a Song
Le Tournoi
Francine Desbiens
A little deaf girl who plays against an arrogant boy in a chess tournament is unaffected by his scorn but responds warmly to the attentions of a young poet. Based on article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, this film illustrates disabled children's right to enjoy a full and decent life. A film without words.
The Tournament
Voir le monde
Francine Desbiens
A kindly old man sends his grandson off to see the world. From the window of the train, the child discovers the problems plaguing this planet and imagines solutions to promote the happiness of children everywhere. A synthesis of Volume 1 of the Rights from the Heart/Droits au c÷ur collection, this animated film for five- to eight-year-olds puts the issue of children's rights in an international context.
To See the World
