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SCMP Reporter

French filmmaker  concerned at the inability of children to express ideas

Award-winning French filmmaker Luc Besson  proudly describes his first animation film, Arthur and the Minimoys, as 'vitamins for kids', a kind of antidote to the grittiness of his earlier works.

Besson said he had made too many violent films but had a lot of messages for children, to which his latest work gave expression.

'Three years ago, a friend of mine told me that a bunch of six-year-old kids were asked to draw a fish, and 60 per cent of them drew a rectangle instead,' he said.

He was 'very scared' at the children's inability to  express their ideas and felt it was time for parents to take responsibility for giving the right signals to their offspring.

The part live-action, part computer-animated movie - also known as Arthur and the Invisibles - is the first of a planned trilogy based on Besson's three books about a race of tiny elfins.

He said it was  inspired by a drawing by artist Patrice Garcia, made when they worked together on Besson's 1997 science-fantasy thriller The Fifth Element.

'A friend of mine called me two weeks ago and told me that their kids wouldn't step on the lawn and were afraid they would kill the Minimoys, and I felt I have achieved something,' he said. 'Consider this movie as vitamins for kids, it's good for them!'

Besson, who took part in the inaugural Asian Film Awards on Tuesday, confessed that business was also part of his career. 'There are three positions you can choose,' he said. 'First is to be French and just do the arts, or to be American and just do the business. But I chose to make films first, and do the business after.'

He said he was impressed by Asian and European cinema production but felt Hollywood was too commercialised, leaving the independents  to make the better films.

'Hollywood has become much more business-oriented in the past 10 years, and many managers have been fired and replaced by lawyers and businessmen.'

Pronouncing himself amazed by the Asian Film Awards and 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival, Besson said he would love to work with any actors from any countries, Asian or otherwise. 'I think the most important is to have talents and ideas.'



Besson's animation movie 'vitamins for kids'