The King and the Mockingbird

A handcrafted work of art, this restored animated classic is both a delightful adventure story for children, and a devilish political satire for adults. But the backstory is legendary: Animator Paul Grimault and writer Jacques Prévert collaborated in 1948 on an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep.” But in 1950, an unscrupulous partner took control and released a truncated version in 1952. Grimault spent the next 25 years getting financing and the rights to complete it. This delightful film – finished in 1980 – incorporates two-thirds of the original animation into the new film. This recent digital restoration is premiering concurrently here, as part of 3RFF, and at the New York Film Fest.

Paul Grimault | France | 1952/80 | 82 min

Three Rivers Film Festival
November 7-22, 2014

Brought to you by Dollar Bank and Pittsburgh Filmmakers