A strange world and a close relationship
People begin transforming into animals. François and his son Émile try to deal with their family’s fate within this changed world. Thomas Cailley makes more than a spectacular fantasy premise from it. The relationship between father and son remains at the centre. Connecting an unusual world with familiar concerns gives the film its strength.
Duris and Kircher make the family believable
Romain Duris brings urgency and concern to François. Paul Kircher plays Émile with vulnerability and a growing strength of his own. Their relationship reaches me emotionally because both have individual responses to their situation. Adèle Exarchopoulos adds humour and depth as Julia. The ensemble keeps the people at the centre even when the fantastical environment becomes particularly striking.
Effects with a storytelling purpose
Make-up and visual effects make the transformations impressive without displacing the story. David Cailley’s cinematography effectively connects nature and the human environment. Andrea Laszlo De Simone’s music accompanies the emotions with restraint. The forest’s sounds matter too. These details create a world that feels both strange and physically tangible.
Verdict
The Animal Kingdom convinces me through its intimate family drama and exceptional fantastical form. Performances, images and effects work together rather than competing for attention. Its questions about humanity and our relationship with nature remain afterwards. For me, it is an impressive work whose unusual premise gains genuine emotional meaning.
Watch the film at home
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links does not add to the price you pay.