Sébastien Laudenbach’s critically applauded, hand-animated feature The Girl without Hands stepped into the international spotlight when it won a Jury Distinction prize at this year’s Annecy animation festival. Laudenbach can now add two more distinguished honors to his shelf: the Best Film Award from Bucharest’s Anim’Est International Animation Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the Bucheon International Animation Festival in South Korea.
The Girl without Hands has garnered a lot of attention for what Libération calls “a vibrant aesthetic for a feminist and sensual tale … which recall Matisse, Paul Sérusier, Nabis and Fauvism.” The dark Brothers Grimm adaptation is the story of a miller who, in hard times, sells his daughter to the Devil. Protected by her purity, the girl escapes, but is deprived of her hands. Leaving her family behind, she embarks on a long journey, encountering the goddess of water, a gentle gardener and even a prince.
GKIDS picked up North American distribution for the film back in May. Sales agency Pyramide International has also secured deals in France, former Yugoslavia, Turkey and China.
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