Iron Boy
A delicate watercolour animation about a boy forced into a metal corset who finds a path to creativity through his physical limitations.
Louis Clichy’s hand-drawn Iron Boy is a sensitive and unique growth story about a boy who had to relearn how to be himself. In the animated film set in the French countryside, young Christophe tries to fulfil his distant and strict father’s expectations while the family farm struggles in the pressures of a changing world.
When Christophe suddenly starts to sway and fall over, the doctor orders him to wear a metal corset that is supposed to keep him upright. The awkward and limiting mobility aid first becomes a symbol of shame and ostracisation. Trapped in his metal shell, Christophe becomes a spectator in a world that only values hard work. His physical isolation, however, opens a door to something new: burgeoning creativity, the magic of music, and the courage to challenge the expectations of those around him.
Clichy, who worked as an animator on Pixar’s WALL·E and Up, debuts as a solo director with a film with visuals far from the polished animation of the mainstream. The inky lines and the backgrounds that resemble water colour on a textured paper make the images feel handmade and full of breath. The film, which won awards at Cannes and at Annecy Animation Film Festival, reminds us that sometimes our biggest hurdles are what lead us onto the most important expeditions.
Rauli Karjalainen (translated by Ailiina Saaristo)
Screenings
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Maxim 2Sat 19.9. at 14.30–15.5080 min, 1/3
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Gilda 1Sun 20.9. at 16.15–17.3580 min, 2/3
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Cinema OrionSat 26.9. at 18.30–19.5080 min, 3/3