The reason this film has so many co-creators (no fewer than nine) is that it is the fruit of final-year work by students in the ISART school in Paris. It is particularly impressive thanks to its inventive screenplay, the innovative aesthetics of the 3D animation and characters who quickly prove to be very endearing.
The action takes place in ancient Egypt, where Ahmes, our apprentice painter, is to meet the great and beautiful Cleopatra, the queen of queens. The set and sun-lit landscape transport viewers to a far-away place, while the attention to detail gives the film real historical authenticity. The costumes reflect the social customs of the time, with peasants and workers clothed in nothing but loincloths (shendyt), as exemplified by the main character.
Contrasting with this realism is the situational humour, which is heightened by the fact the film is silent. The comic value is made all the richer by clever references – for instance, the film’s stock of paintings features numerous allusions to the works of Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Michelangelo and Andy Warhol. There’s also fun to be found in the way the film-makers play with the cliches attached to Cleopatra – from the familiar (that she didn’t like her nose) to the more interpretative (her animal companion is a rather peculiar predator…).
This charming short film lends welcome freshness to the legend of this acclaimed woman, and everyone will find something to enjoy in it.
