If you want something different from rental blockbusters or are fed up struggling to find cinema movies to suit young children, the eight-week long Family Films Carnival will be a summer holiday lifesaver. Starting this weekend until August 25, a series of international children's movies, animations and short films are showing at weekends at the Space Museum, Science Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive and Tsuen Wan Town Hall. It is part of the International Arts Carnival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Swedish film A Little Christmas Tale chronicles four-year-old Ina's search for her lost teddy bear, while Magic Umbrella, a mainland production, is the story of little girl Hoho's amusing journey with a magic umbrella. Kavalan is an epic from Taiwan. Teenager Pan travels 200 years back in time and embarks on a journey in an ancient civilisation. Indian film Magic Pearl features the unusual events that occur after a beautiful pearl turns up in an Indian family.
Both Parents' Love and Not One Less explore the importance of education for children. The former, in Cantonese only, is a local black and white classic from 1953, while the latter is directed by acclaimed mainland film-maker Zhang Yimou. Not One Less won the best film award at the 1999 Venice Film Festival. The tale revolves around a teenage supply teacher in a remote Hebei village retrieving a lost student who has run away to the city.
World Animations 1 and 2 are animations from Japan, South Korea, Denmark, France, Germany, England and Canada. Highlights include Hooves Of Fire featuring Robbie the Reindeer (below), The Sandwiches and A House, both of which won the best director award (animation film) at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival in 1994. In Bavel's Book, a brother and sister embark on an odyssey with mythical animals.
The World Shorts series comprises five entertaining short stories from Germany, Denmark and Norway. In A Dog's Hideaway, little girl Janine meets a runaway dog Polo and starts a heart-warming journey; while in Teis And Nico, two brothers are faced with a dilemma: only one of them is invited to their dream girl Giinjha's birthday party. A Moment is a poetic documentary for children about time and clocks. Gottcha is a heartfelt piece about a child who beats the bullies. Finally, A Devil In The Closet, a Norwegian production, is a hilarious horror story on how young Linn stages a seance in her family attic.
All films are suitable for over-fives. Most are in the language of the country of origin, with English and Chinese subtitles, but it's a good idea to check before buying tickets.
