La joie de vivre is a French film made by an English artist with financial backing from America, which makes it something of a mongrel. It's an exuberant, sophisticated animation drawn in an Art Deco style that is strangely reminiscent of those cartoons of the Beatles from Yellow Submarine and similar artwork from the late 60s and early 70s. It follows a couple of sassy young girls, all coltish legs and slim litheness as they commune with nature, engage in a little skinny-dipping and play with trains. As they play they are pursued by a young man on a bicycle; although initially elusive and unattainable, they eventually succumb to his charms and accept a coggy on his bike. There's something of the free spirit about this charming little film – and it highlights the different directions European and American schools of animation were taking in the early 1930s.
7 Reviews
La Joie de vivre was one French animated short I was astounded by
tavm22 February 2009
Just watched this on the Europa Film Treasures site. It's an animated short from France and has sophisticated images of multiple electrical wires with two women dancing along on them, a man on a bike pursuing them, and some swans in a pond by a waterfall where the women go nude bathing. It's also accompanied by music that guides the animation to abstract places. Such a pleasure to see some of these rare treasures on the unique site I've visited quite often for some time now. They really offer some rare gems there! Despite being made some seventy-plus years now, La Joie de vivre really seems modern especially with the black-and-white look. Oh, and there's one final sequence involving trains that really has to be seen to be believed. So on that note, La Joie de vivre comes highly recommended.
Well Animated, Very Original and Way Ahead of its Time
andyrobert20 September 2020
I watched this French cartoon on You Tube this morning and found it both interesting and entertaining.
There were no words spoken in the film - in any language. The story was told purely in haunting, melodious music and mime, which the French have always be very good at. Any one who has seen the more recent film, The Artist, will agree with that.
The animation was very lively and risque. It is a wonder the Hays Code at the time did not ban it from public viewing.
I have recently been researching television programmes that were broadcasted during the 1930s, and discovered that it was actually shown on BBC Television in 1938 on the 29th January at 3.25 in the afternoon. I wonder how the more reserved television viewers of the 1930s would have reacted to it.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the cartoon was well animated, very original and way ahead of its time.
10 out of 10.
There were no words spoken in the film - in any language. The story was told purely in haunting, melodious music and mime, which the French have always be very good at. Any one who has seen the more recent film, The Artist, will agree with that.
The animation was very lively and risque. It is a wonder the Hays Code at the time did not ban it from public viewing.
I have recently been researching television programmes that were broadcasted during the 1930s, and discovered that it was actually shown on BBC Television in 1938 on the 29th January at 3.25 in the afternoon. I wonder how the more reserved television viewers of the 1930s would have reacted to it.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the cartoon was well animated, very original and way ahead of its time.
10 out of 10.
Whimsical Animated French Short
CitizenCaine8 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is a whimsical animated short in black and white with musical accompaniment. Two female sprites caper about eventually followed by what looks like a male bicyclist. The look and feel of the short reminds one of the Felix the Cat black and white cartoons, which came later, although the French influences are apparent. The female sprites with their elongated appearance remind one of can-can girls, while the bicyclist with the beret evokes a young French gentleman. The first half features the sprites frolicking in nature pursued by the bicyclist. The second half of the short becomes more abstract and dreamlike. It's an enjoyable piece of animation from an early period. ** of 4 stars.
Sexy
gengar84325 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, those French. They love their innuendo, and here it's lively and open. The story of two women who love life and, obviously, each other. While prancing about, one loses her shoe. Interpretation: she's missing something. A fine young fellow chases the two little nymphs through waterfall, lake, and city, trying to return her shoe. "Danger" is the not-so-subtle message. For whom? In the end, the ladies let him in, and they have a fine time pulling levers and making the trains go wild - figure it out, Fellini. Finally, exhausted, all three take off on a bicycle built for two, fitted for three, pumping pedals into the cotton-candy skies. And they lived happily ever after.
Animation is terrific and sensual with lovely details if you take the time. Worth seeing at least twice.
Animation is terrific and sensual with lovely details if you take the time. Worth seeing at least twice.
An odd little French art cartoon.
planktonrules11 September 2010
Considering I now have over 9000 film reviews to my credit, I will apparently watch just about anything--and this sort of strange movie is certainly an odd one to review and qualifies for the "just about thing" classification! It is included as an odd little extra with the 1934 French film "Mauvaise Graine" ("Bad Seed").
"La Joie de vivre" ("The Joy of Life") is a very hard film to describe and I can guarantee that it's not a film most will enjoy. Despite being a cartoon, this ain't Popeye but an art film with strong Art Deco/Bauhaus/Art Nouveau influences...seriously. It is a black & white cartoon with very simple animation by today's standards. It consists of two nymph-like women cavorting about among freaking enormous flowers and a 'dangerous' man chasing them. There is no real narrative and the film is dialog-free. It's interesting...at first and probably mostly of interest to artists and niche viewers.
"La Joie de vivre" ("The Joy of Life") is a very hard film to describe and I can guarantee that it's not a film most will enjoy. Despite being a cartoon, this ain't Popeye but an art film with strong Art Deco/Bauhaus/Art Nouveau influences...seriously. It is a black & white cartoon with very simple animation by today's standards. It consists of two nymph-like women cavorting about among freaking enormous flowers and a 'dangerous' man chasing them. There is no real narrative and the film is dialog-free. It's interesting...at first and probably mostly of interest to artists and niche viewers.
A persistent suitor
Horst_In_Translation13 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"La joie de vivre" or "The Joy of Life" is a 10-minute animated short film in black-and-white from over 80 years ago. The pair of filmmakers here are Anthony Gross and Hector Hoppin and this is also their only credits. At least, this one is somewhat known still today, so they left us something. Still, unfortunately I cannot say I enjoyed the watch a lot. Two ladies are running around, both very beautiful, and one loses a shoe. A man finds it and the entire film is about him trying to get the shoe back to them. They think he is evil and try to flee, but in the end he succeeds and they find out about his noble mission. I think this would actually be fun to watch with Joel Grey's "Two Ladies" as soundtrack. Anyway, the story is relatively thin, even for such a short film and the music was more annoying than fun to listen to I have to say. Disney did a lot better at this time already and I can see why the duo here did not pursue a career in film after this movie. Not a good watch and I do not recommend it.
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