Saturday, February 23, 2013

Lotte from Gadgetville

A few weeks ago, we went to the Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival, an annual event in Alameda that features two full days of diverse, high quality movies for kids. We saw a delightful shorts program, with work from across the globe including some pieces by children—always inspiring for kids to see. Afterwards we watched the Estonian animated film Lotte from Gadgetville (English version), which was so unique and charming that I am breaking my long hiatus from this blog to write about it!

Directed by Heiki Ernits and Janno Poldma in 2007, Lotte from Gadgetville is the first animated feature film from Estonia and is considered a national treasure. The plot is offbeat, certainly compared to its American counterparts, about a town of animals where everyone is an inventor. Each year, the town holds a competition for the best invention. One day, some children find a book floating in the ocean near their home and inside is a Japanese bee named Susumu. He introduces the town to judo, which catches on like wildfire. So in addition to the invention competition and its preparation, the plot centers on a bee teaching judo to a village of animals. I’m telling you, it’s quirky!

The film’s lead character is a good-natured and spunky little girl dog named Lotte whose dad Oskar wins the competition every year. Lotte’s best friend, Bruno, is a boy cat who suffers from an overly-protective and domineering mother. We learn that Bruno’s dad disappeared, giving some insight into why Bruno’s mom won’t let him out of her sight. We see Lotte helping Bruno to push against the unreasonable limits set by his mom, and their frustration at times, as they strive to compete in a judo championship.

There is also some drama about a neighbor rabbit who cheats in the invention competition, desperate to win. He also has a back story which in the end makes him a bit more sympathetic, something I always appreciate in a film—showing that people are complicated and not necessarily good or bad, a refreshing perspective in children’s media.

Overall Lotte from Gadgetville is a story about friendship, sharing cultures, being courageous, and learning new skills. I would recommend it for kids of all ages, and their grown-ups!

And while you may think tracking down a six-year-old Estonian animated film an impossible task, I am happy to tell you that the film is actually available through Kidflix Global, where you can rent or buy the DVD.