We start this first day at the Annecy Animation Festival with Have a Nice Day by Liu Jian. Chinese animated film, between black comedy and thriller, Have a Nice Day is presented out of competition. Nugget of the genre, Liu Jian took his revenge this year.
A first failed attempt
Last year, Have a Nice Day was supposed to be presented right here in Annecy , unfortunately, the attempt did not succeed. The Chinese government has pressured the festival to prevent its broadcast. However, the film was presented a few weeks earlier at the Berlinale. In competition at the time, the festival was "obliged to withdraw [it] from our programming, following a decision imposed on us".
"We regret the official pressure that meant that we were unable to present this remarkable film this year and we hope that international audiences can quickly have the opportunity to read it. »
Finally, Liu Jian takes his revenge this year. Have a Nice Day will be released in French cinemas on June 20.
Small means but big consequences
Have a Nice Day is a remarkable work. First, because Liu Jian is broke, which forces him to use a simplistic animation, in its strictest rudiments. A minimalist animation, which saves money, but which gives a real identity to the work. Have a Nice Day gets its own visual identity, somewhere between simplicity and attention to detail. Even if the animation is simplistic and economical, the attention to detail deserves our attention. The filmmaker embellishes his visual with some intelligent ideas. With a few small details such as cigarette smoke, a lit TV screen, or intriguing backgrounds, Liu Jian gives an overflowing diversity and generosity to his image. The choice of music over it creates an atmosphere, accompanied by plays of light and shadow. In short, Liu Jian knows how to embellish his image to create a generous work.
A film that knows its classics
The starting premise is reminiscent of No Country for Old Man: a briefcase of money, a gangster, a hitman, and a few other tasty characters. The range of protagonists proposed is fascinating. Each character has his own identity and is a pleasure to write. The friendly and respectful, but cold and imperceptible hitman sometimes reminiscent of Mike from Breaking Bad, the modern and lonely young cowboy who thinks he has found the bargain but just does a big, the old-fashioned gangster, and finally the unlikely duo of a couple whose man is decked out in beautiful glasses. In short, a funny, intriguing carnival, but above all always very credible. Liu Jian plays Inarritu in his early days, when the filmmaker liked to cross destinies and characters, guided by chance as in Amours Chiennes or Babel. He sometimes reminds Tarantino, in his casual approach to violence, as if it were an integral part of mortal daily lives. Have a Nice Day is like the storm that threatens the film: heavy, ready to explode, before dying out in a light and pleasant rain. Bluffing.
Have a Nice Day is a masterpiece of the genre. A very intelligent animated film, which will seduce specialists and neophytes alike. Liu Jian hit the nail on the head in this mix between thriller and black comedy full of second degree.
Co-writing: Alexandre Chadha
