A Monkey's Tale

A Monkey's Tale (French: Le Château des singes; literally "The Castle of Monkeys") is a feature-length French animated film directed by Jean-François Laguionie. It was released in 1999, and won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 5th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival.[1] It was released to theaters in the UK by Entertainment Rights in an English version in 2000, which features Rik Mayall, John Hurt, Michael York, Sally Ann Marsh, and Michael Gambon. It was initially going to be released straight-to-video in the US by Universal Pictures, but for unknown reasons, it never materialized.

A Monkey's Tale
Directed byJean-François Laguionie
Written byNorman Hudis
Jean-François Laguionie
StarringTara Römer
Nadia Farès
Pierre Arditi
Jean Piat
Yves Barsacq
Music byAlexandre Desplat
Release date
2 June 1999
Running time
75 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Plot

A narrator relates that long ago, an earthquake separated a tribe of monkeys. One group escaped the flood brought on by the quake by climbing to the top of the trees while the other clung to the roots. In the flood's wake, the single tribe becomes two with mutual suspicion and fear of each other maintaining the divide.

Kom is a member of the Woonkos, the tribe of monkeys residing in the tree canopy, who live in obsessive fear of falling into the world below which they believe to be inhabited by demons. Kom refuses to believe these superstitions and dismisses the warnings of both his older brother, Gavin, and the paranoid elder of the Woonkos. However, on the way home, he accidentally falls from the trees into the land below. He is saved by the King of the Lankoos who have developed into a medieval-like culture with advanced scientific knowledge, but equal levels of superstition and prejudice towards their Woonko cousins whom they believe to be savages. While at the King's castle, Kom befriends (and later begins a relationship with) Gina, a young maid and Master Martin, the librarian and they help teach him to behave like a Lankoo. The King is amused by Kom's attitude and impressed by the various cries his people use to communicate, although Gina doesn't like it when he tries too hard for popularity, and briefly forgets her. However, there is also evil afoot. The chancellor Sebastian, the governess and their dim-witted side-kick, Gerard the Gormless, are up to evil plans: they intend to find a way to kill the King and they are slowly poisoning his daughter, Princess Ida. During a cold spell, the lake which the Lankoos believed to be cursed, freezes over, and the King leads his army to cross it to reach the "promised land" on the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, the ice melts and the King and his army all drown, and only Kom and one other soldier named Lionel survive. Sebastian believes his plan has worked and moves to claim the throne, but the governess (who was giving the princess the poison) is given it herself by Gina and Lionel, however it is believed she is tough enough not to die. In the meantime, Ida recovers from the effects of the poison and claims the throne before Sebastian can. Sebastian attempts to escape, but is pursued by Kom who subdues him after a fight while Lionel does the same to Gerard. The film ends with Sebastian and Gerard in cages, Ida as the new queen, and Kom and Gina returning to the land of the Woonkos, with the implication that the two tribes will learn to know each other once more.

Characters
  • Kom – the protagonist; a rebellious, cheeky, but brave and kind young Wonkoo monkey who helps uncover the trecherous plot. Voiced by Tara Römer, singing voice by Stéphane Peccoux (French); Matt Hill, singing voice by Paul Holmes (English).
  • Gina – Kom's love interest; a feisty, benevolent, clever, and jolly Lankoo monkey. Voiced by Nadia Farès (French); Sally Ann Marsh (English).
  • Master Martin – the altrusitc, wise, and loyal old scholar, who is a good friend and mentor to Kom and Gina. Voiced by Michael Lonsdale (French); Michael Gambon, singing voice by Robert Henry (English).
  • Sebastian – The main antagonist of the film, he is the chancellor and is feared by many people, although he is trusted by them too. Only the workers building the castle are suspicious of him. Voiced by Jean Piat (French); John Hurt (English).
  • Governess – The princess Ida's malicious governess, who helps Sebastian, is poisoning the princess and realises Gina is suspicious of her. Voiced by Janine Souchon (French); Shirley Anne Field (English).
  • Gerard the Gormless – A villainous character, although he is just a sidekick, and does not appear to have many villainous qualities. He is one of the comic relief characters. Voiced by Patrick Préjean (French); Rik Mayall (English).
  • The King – A kindly, but eccentric old man, who lets fantasy lead over fact. Dies by drowning in ice. Voiced by Pierre Arditi (French); Michael York (English).
  • Princess Ida – The King's sickly daughter who is being poisoned by the governess. By the end of the film, because of the help of Kom and Gina, she has recovered and becomes queen. She is also the one who realises they must give up the idea about the "better world" on the other side, and that the two tribes need to reunite. Voiced by Ivana Coppola (French); Diana Quick (English).
  • Lionel – A Lankoo soldier, one of the few to trust Kom right from the start. Voiced by Bruno Choël (French); William Vanderpuye (English).
  • Gavin- Kom's more sensible older brother. Voiced by Lionel Melet (French); Paul Dobson (English).
  • Kom's mum- A kindly woman who loves both her sons. Voiced by Laurence Jeanneret (French); Janyse Jaud (English).
  • Korcnak- The pompous, bossy and ignorant elder of the Wonkoos, who warns them about the Lankoos. His views are revealed to be very incorrect. Voiced by Yves Barsacq (French); French Tickner (English).
  • Lankoo workers- They are surprised about Kom. They provide us with much of the gossip and information that is going on. They are also comic relief characters.
  • Narrator- He tells the story right at the start.

References
  1. 5. Kecskeméti Animációs Filmfesztivál 2. Nemzetközi Animációs Játékfilm Fesztivál. Kecskeméti Animáció Film Fesztivál. 1999.
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