Toys

Snow. A wintry wind. In a thatched cottage that is home to a family of teddy bears, the young cub Ludovic dreams of tobogganing with his friends. 'No,' his parents tell him, 'you're too little.' Ludovic feels a bit lonely. But his dreams and imaginings are powerful: he invents wonderful games to share with his new best friend, a doll that has miraculously come to life. Wrapped in the music of Daniel Lavoie, this charming, tender tale by Co Hoedeman evokes the cosy relationship between a child and a favourite toy, offering a glimpse into the magic and mystery of childhood.

Ludovic: A Crocodile in My Garden is the second film in the collection Seasons in the Life of Ludovic. This one explores the world of play. Magical thinking governs Ludovic's world. It is springtime. Ludovic, in his garden, reigns over his menagerie of paper animals and their jungle home. In his improvised Africa, Ludovic goes from one surprise to another until the animals help themselves to the surprise brought by his mother. When they refuse to obey him, Ludovic doesn't want to play anymore. He bangs the door and pouts. But children's fights don't last. Reconciliation is not far off, especially when there is a snack to be shared by everyone. (See also Ludovic - The Snow Gift.)

In this fascinating, innovative exercise in animation, thousands of beads are arranged and manipulated, assuming shapes of creatures both mythical and real. They continually devour, merge, and absorb one another in explosions of colour. The theme is one of aggression and inevitability, but any conclusion is left to the viewer. Sound film without words.