April 15, 2023

London Film Festival 2022 Review – My Father’s Dragon (2022)

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Animation takes a long time to make – years of your life. So, although Irish-based Cartoon Saloon has been around for over 20 years and feels like an established force to be reckoned with – multiple Oscar nominations and Annie Awards trophies bear testament – it has, in fact, only made five feature films. But they, and their other output of TV series and shorts, have earned its team a reputation for bringing true magic to our screens with their mix of fantasy, mythology and expressive animation. Film number five, My Father’s Dragon, arrives at this year’s London Film Festival and appears to mark something of a change in direction.

Based on the 1948 children’s novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett, it starts in the depression-hit 30s, with young Elmer (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) and his mother (Golshifteh Farahani) giving up their small town shop and travelling to Nevergreen City to find work. It’s hard to come by and, despite his mother’s efforts to stay positive and keep the reality of the situation from the boy, their meagre savings are soon used up. After an argument, Elmer is out on the cold snowy streets, where he meets a talking cat (Whoopi Goldberg) which tells him about a dragon that will solve all his problems. All his has to do is rescue it from a sinking island where it’s guarded by legions of fantastic beasts …..

Cartoon Saloon fans will be familiar with the unique style of animation – characters with captivatingly huge eyes and landscapes full of swirling, vibrant colours – and that remains intact. But, in the hands of director (also co-founder of the company) Nora Twomey, there’s a sense of following in the footsteps of her other animation, the much-acclaimed The Breadwinner (2017). That film demonstrated there was more to their output than fantasy and that animation could be an outstanding medium for telling serious and relevant stories. My Father’s Dragon mixes the harshness of the reality with the fantastical, colourful world of the remote island, telling a story of trust and conquering fear. A halfway house, if you like, but one that retains the generosity of spirit of Wolfwalkers (2020) and keeps the magic almost intact.

Until now, the studio has shied away from their characters being voiced by high profile actors. This is the biggest and most noticeable change, but their choices are literally pitch perfect . On the island, Elmer discovers the dragon, who rejoices in the name of Boris and is voiced by Stranger Things Gaten Matarazzo. That the two recorded their scenes together in the studio is clear from the rapport and sense of fun in their voices and it’s inspired casting. The familiar tones of Ian McShane bring a well-intentioned but misguided elderly gorilla to life and the voices of Goldberg, Dianne Wiest, Chris O’Dowd and Rita Moreno, among others, are all a credit to casting director Amy Lippens.

While My Father’s Dragon takes Cartoon Saloon away from its familiar stomping ground, the film still retains most of the familiar magic and is still unerring it its ability to move and provoke the occasional tear, especially when it comes to the relationship between Elmer and Boris. It took five years to make. We can only wonder what 2027 will bring.

★★★★


Animation, Fantasy | Cert: PG | London Film Festival, 8 and 10 October 2022 | Netflix from 11 November 2022 | Dir. Nora Twomey | The voices of Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Ian McShane, Whoopi Goldberg, Dianne Wiest, Chris O’Dowd, Rita Moreno, Golshifteh Farahani

7th November update – Watch our  Nora Twomey video Interview

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