A Boat in the Garden
France, Luxembourg2024animated75'Jean-François Laguionie Retrospective
One day, François, an 11-year-old boy, finds drawings showing the construction of a sailboat. Soon, he discovers that his parents are building their own boat in the garden! It is no ordinary boat, but a replica of the one used by Joshua Slocum, a famous sailor. The work consumes all his parents’ attention and time, and François has to decide for himself whether he wants to share this passion with them. A remarkable story about discovering one’s own path, a search for an authority, interest development, and the realisation that the path leading toward one’s dreams can be more important than their fulfilment.
- directed by
- Jean-François Laguionie
Jean-François Laguionie (born 1939 in Besançon) is a French animation filmmaker who blends surrealism and impressionism. A student of Paul Grimault, he abandoned theatre in favor of animated film as an art form. His style is marked by gouache technique, interplay of light, and maritime motifs—seen in works like The Lady and the Cellist, Rowing Across the Atlantic, and Louise by the Shore. He also explores social and political themes while maintaining a poetic, unique style.
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