Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Baby Amélie is the third child of Belgian parents living in Japan. She is not in a hurry: she takes her time before she starts walking, before she starts talking, but when she is two and a half, everything gaines momentum thanks to her grandmother Claude, who lets her taste Belgian white chocolate. That taste sensation suddenly makes her aware of everything around her. Together with her housekeeper Nishio-san, she embarks on an adventurous journey of discovery through the many mysteries of Japanese culture.
In Japan, it is believed that once a child reaches the age of three, it descends from the realm of the gods to everyday existence; it is the first transition a person undergoes in their life. In 2000, Belgian author Amélie Nothomb, who spent her early childhood in Japan, wrote the autobiographical novel Métaphysique des tubes, in which she recounts this transition. Directors Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han have adapted it into this beautifully animated film, their first feature film.
