Chicken for Linda! (French: Linda veut du poulet!, lit. 'Linda Wants Chicken!') is a 2023 animated film written and directed by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach.[2]
| Chicken for Linda! | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| French | Linda veut du poulet! |
| Directed by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Edited by | Catherine Aladenise |
| Music by | Clément Ducol |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Gebeka Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 73 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | French |
| Box office | $672,910[1] |
Synopsis edit
Paulette is a widowed mother who feels guilty after unfairly punishing her daughter Linda for something the girl did not do. She asks Linda what she can do to atone for her mistake, to which Linda replies that she wants a meal of chicken with peppers, representing one of her few remaining memories of her father before his death; thus, Paulette sets out, against the context of a general strike that has virtually shut down the city, to buy a chicken to make the dish even though she does not know how to cook.[3]
Voice cast edit
- Melinée Leclerc as Linda, an eight-year-old girl
- Clotilde Hesme as Paulette, Linda's mother
- Lætitia Dosch as Astrid, Linda's aunt and Paulette's older sister
- Alenza Dus as Carmen, Linda's best friend
- Scarlett Cholleton as Annette, the girl who lends Linda her new beret
- Anaïs Weller as Afia, a friend of Linda
- Estéban as Serge, the rookie police officer
- Patrick Pineau as Jean-Michel, the truck driver
- Claudine Acs as Grandma, Jean-Michel's mother
Release edit
The film premiered in the ACID program at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[4] It was subsequently screened at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.[5]
The film was released theatrically in France on 18 October 2023 by Gebeka Films.[6] GKIDS announced plans to distribute the film in North America, and a limited theatrical release began on April 5, 2024.[7][8] The film was licensed in Japan by Asmik Ace, and it will be released in theaters nationwide beginning April 12, 2024.[9]
Reception edit
Critical response edit
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[10]
Fabien Lemercier of Cineuropa called the film "a very well-composed feature film which gives childhood its proper place as the creator of healthy disorder, because, as per the song at the end of the film, 'paradise is where you live, where you grow up, where you laugh, for all those lucky enough to be called your friends'."[6]
Peter Debruge of Variety wrote that "Malta and Laudenbach have crafted an entertaining, kid-friendly toon whose power lies less in its plot than the surprising insights into human behavior revealed along the way. It's all the more impressive that animation (as opposed to live action) succeeds in capturing the kind of gestures and details that should seem familiar to any child, from the distorted blur of street lights observed from the back seat to a lesson Linda's aunt gives in shelling peas."[2]
For Screen Daily, Wendy Ide wrote that "The film's initial impact will, however, likely come from its distinctive visual style. Laudenbach's character design is minimal, almost abstract at times. But a few cursory lines and a block of colour – each character has their own specific hue – can speak volumes when handled as deftly as they are here. There's a pleasing textured quality to the drawing style; we can see the brushstrokes in Margaux Duseigneur's handsome backdrops, giving a sense of movement, of vitality, even when the characters themselves are static."[5]
Accolades edit
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Is Film | 2023 | Audience Award | Chicken for Linda! | Won | [11] |
| Jury Award | Won | ||||
| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | 2023 | Cristal for Best Animated Feature Film | Won | [12] | |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Animated Film | Won | [13] | |
| Cinekid Festival | 2023 | Cinekid Lion | Won | [14] | |
| European Film Awards | 9 December 2023 | Best Animated Feature Film | Nominated | [15] | |
| Guadalajara International Film Festival | 2023 | International Animation Feature Film | Won | ||
| International Cinephile Society | 11 February 2024 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [16] | |
| Lumières Awards | 22 January 2024 | Best Animated Film | Won | [17] | |
| Best Music | Clément Ducol | Nominated | [18] |
References edit
- ^ "Chicken for Linda! (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b Debruge, Peter (3 August 2023). "'Chicken for Linda!' Review: Gorgeous French Toon Gets Mother-Daughter Bonds Better Than Most Live-Action Movies". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Kambole (31 August 2023). "'Chicken for Linda!' Directors Malta & Laudenbach Give Us the Recipe for Their Acclaimed Movie". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024.
- ^ Leffler, Rebecca (25 April 2023). "Charades unveils busy Cannes slate including 'Little Girl Blue' starring Marion Cotillard". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
- ^ a b Ide, Wendy (13 June 2023). "'Chicken For Linda!': Annecy Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023.
- ^ a b Lemercier, Fabien (13 June 2023). "Review: Chicken for Linda!". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
- ^ Croll, Ben (14 June 2023). "Gkids Scoops Up 'Chicken for Linda!' Which Focuses On The Madcap Melancholy of Childhood". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023.
- ^ Cherian, Anisha (29 February 2024). "GKIDS to Release César-Winning Animated Feature "Chicken for Linda!" in Select Theaters Nationwide". GKIDS. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "映画『リンダはチキンがたべたい！』公式サイト". Asmik Ace (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Chicken for Linda!". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (26 October 2023). "'Chicken For Linda!' Sweeps Animation Is Film Awards". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (17 June 2023). "'Chicken For Linda!,' 'Robot Dreams,' '27,' Take Top Honors At 2023 Annecy Festival". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023.
- ^ Barat, Mathilde (23 February 2024). "César 2024: Anatomie d'une chute sacré meilleur film. Le palmarès complet de la 49e cérémonie". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (27 October 2023). "Chicken for Linda! wins the Cinekid Lion for Best Children's Film". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (19 October 2023). "European Film Awards Unveil 2023 Short And Animated Feature Nominees". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023.
- ^ Stevens, Beth (11 February 2024). "2024 ICS Award Winners". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (22 January 2024). "'Anatomy of a Fall' Wins Best Film, Actress, Screenplay at France's Lumiere Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (14 December 2023). "'Anatomy of a Fall' Leads France's Lumiere Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023.
