Reviews

This is one of those films that folks either love or hate. This seems to be as true for the public as the critics, and opinions are heated. It is is either the worst film you've ever seen, with lousy acting, a preposterous plot and humor you find insulting, or it is one of the funniest films you've ever seen, with terrific writing, casting and acting. Variety raved, Roger Ebert gave it a thumbs up, and the folks at Slamdance awarded it the Grand Jury Prize in 2000. Yet, this film has gone nowhere, and has been excoriated by the local press following its limited forays into the urban art house circuit. It has been described as shrill, loud, difficult to watch, disturbing, and even obnoxious by some, and brilliant, funny, and engaging by others. I loved this film, and laughed so hard that I had to see it a second time to get the lines that I hadn't heard over my own hysteria. Although his portrayal of working class life has been criticized as cruel, as a white trash girl, I think he absolutely nailed it and I would be very surprised to learn that the director had no personal knowledge of the lifestyles he portrayed. For a low budget indie film, the production values are quite high, the art direction fabulous, and the acting ferociously good. These folks dive into their roles like it is the last part they will ever get, and in retrospect, it may have been.

Remarkable for special effects, cinematography, animal handling, and acting, this under-screened and under-appreciated film received a full five-minute standing ovation at The Sarasota French Film Festival, and deserved more. I cannot understand why this film never took off. The production values and art direction alone should have guaranteed its success. I have concluded that the combination of subtitles in a children's film has discouraged viewers. This film is not for kids alone, but for everyone. The Lion King is dull and colorless compared to L'Enfant Lion. Give it a chance; you may need to add it to your list of the greatest films of all time