Family in the cinema: The Secret of Singing Birds

Lucy, 9, goes on vacation to her mother, who is conducting archaeological excavations. The French town of Bectoile, although small and inconspicuous, hides many secrets. A native of the area, Caroline, Lucy's mother, and her colleague Pierrot take care of one of them: an abandoned castle. Lucy is not left behind and tries to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her grandfather. Does this story have anything to do with a loud fire years ago and a mysterious signifier healing animals? To determine this, it is not enough to have eyes around your head. Lucy has to clean up with a teenage roommate next door, listen to the ubiquitous blue tits and dig through the vintage newspapers. One thing is certain: this holiday he will remember for the rest of his life!

The film had its Polish premiere in the Main Competition of the Young Horizons International Film Festival and was well received by the young audience and parents.

Also worthy of special attention is the excellent Polish dubbing, directed by Jacek Bończyk — one of the most recognizable figures of Polish dubbing. However, his participation in the project was not limited to directing: Bończyk also prepared a Polish translation, lent voice to several characters, and sang the final song, which is the main theme of the film.

The film impresses with its unusual, traditional cut-out animation technique, which brings to mind the most beautiful illustrated books from childhood. All the characters, decorations and props were made by hand from paper, cardboard and fabrics, and then brought to life cage by cage. For the film, nearly 2000 intricately made, moving paper dolls were created, which were breathed into the lives of more than a dozen artists. This extremely labor-intensive, artisanal method gives the animation a special softness, texture and warmth. This is a real feast for the eyes, in which each frame is a small work of art, and the magic of the hand-made world perfectly harmonizes with the story of childhood, memory and the discovery of family secrets.