Children of the Stork (1999) User Reviews

Beautiful chaos

[Falconeer · 9/10 · 24 June 2010]

"Children of the stork" is a completely off-the-rails road movie that deals with some potent social and political issues, while it entertains. It succeeds at doing both, and the end result is an unforgettable look at three young rebels, who take to the open road, when they discover a stork, who turns out to be an illegal Arab immigrant, hiding out in France. (Yes, I said a stork..) Together they will try to get the stork to the German border, where it will be safe. It is nuts, but it all makes sense, and it is not as innocent and harmless as it sounds. Mixed in with the comic moments, is some very angry feelings concerning France's treatment of Arabs, mainly Algerians, who have come to make a life for themselves while holding onto their own identity. Having a knowledge of the French/Algerian conflict will help a lot in understanding the meanings and messages of this amazing film. About the film itself, it is brilliantly edited, and is quite often beautiful to look at. The camera is constantly catching moments at all angles, and quick cuts and editing give the production a frenetic and urgent quality. The cast of the three friends are all great, and Ouassini Embarek as the Algerian teen who leaves his family after they try to strip him of his north African heritage and his religion, is especially great here. Apparently this film is dedicated to one Algerian man who snuck over the French border by hiding under a truck, hence the storyline of the displaced stork. This surreal, and unforgettable film is a fine tribute to this man, as well as a savage attack on capitalism, police brutality, nationalism and the oppression of all human freedom. A unique and important piece of cinema that will take some effort to find, but it is worth it.

I wish I could direct this film!

[DansLeNoir · 13 July 2019]

Really the script and the design of the film is very nice. Rona Hartner was an amazing actress. Romain Duris and Ouassini Embarek also performed very well. The film has a fascinating structure. Social messages were impressive. The film's comedy was successful. Best movie I've seen this year! It should definitely be monitored.

A mess

[gut-6 · 2/10 · 11 December 2003]

This movie is an attempted rehash of Godard's Breathless, updated with a sympathetic look at dole bludgers and illegal arab infiltrators. There is little plot or structure to interrupt the incessant Marxist sloganeering and posing, but there are a couple of moderately amusing scenes which slightly redeem it.

Systematic chaos

[euripidies_1 · 10/10 · 25 January 2005]

Children of the Stork is a collection of situation which allow the author to inject social commentary. It deals with the issue of how capitalism dehumanizes its workers. This idea is shown through the situation of Otto and Louna two unemployed proletarians driven to the ends of their tither. One of three main characters is a young Algerian immigrant. This allows the director to explore the situation of Arabs form Algeria immigrating to France. These's two major issues are set upon the background of the Algerian war and the social upheaval undergoing in France(Intensified class war).

The situations are loosely interconnected formulating a plot but this comes secondary to the anti-Bolshevik Marxian slogans and cometary. (It's got the whole "Humanity won't be happy till the last capitalist is hung with the guts of the last bureaucrat" (May 68 graffiti) feel to it). It makes some very interesting points and reminds me of Kafka but with a hope that is quite liberating. Very much worth a look!