Kirikous and the Sorceress is a piece of African animation, supposedly for children.
I loved the drawing, I loved the African flavor, and I even loved the theme song which I have at home and play from time to time.
But the best thing about it was something else.
The story of the evil Sorceress is that back when she was young and sweet, some men held her down and pushed a thorn into her back. Living with the agony of that made her mean and evil to the point where she does not even look the same. She looks hard and old.
She rides the crest of her evil to where she is the most powerful person, and no one can oppose her. She has the villagers living poor, she has all their gold, and she takes their men.
She won't let anyone take the thorn out because she knows the process will be hellish, so she just lives with the pain, becoming more and more evil all the time. I could see that this was a metaphor for anyone that needs healing from a traumatic event, but it hit the nail on the head for bitter women. It made me think of my own experiences as well.
Also the grandfather reminded me very much of Ausar or Obatala, African deities.
I was already entertained by Kirikou, but having a sophisticated bit of substance slipped in there when I wasn't looking was a beautiful surprise.
In America, the answer to the villager's problem would have been to cut the Sorceress' head off or some such thing.
In Kirikous and the Sorceress, the solution is very "African".
Heal the person and put them back in balance, and everyone will be better off for it.
Beautiful.
I loved the drawing, I loved the African flavor, and I even loved the theme song which I have at home and play from time to time.
But the best thing about it was something else.
The story of the evil Sorceress is that back when she was young and sweet, some men held her down and pushed a thorn into her back. Living with the agony of that made her mean and evil to the point where she does not even look the same. She looks hard and old.
She rides the crest of her evil to where she is the most powerful person, and no one can oppose her. She has the villagers living poor, she has all their gold, and she takes their men.
She won't let anyone take the thorn out because she knows the process will be hellish, so she just lives with the pain, becoming more and more evil all the time. I could see that this was a metaphor for anyone that needs healing from a traumatic event, but it hit the nail on the head for bitter women. It made me think of my own experiences as well.
Also the grandfather reminded me very much of Ausar or Obatala, African deities.
I was already entertained by Kirikou, but having a sophisticated bit of substance slipped in there when I wasn't looking was a beautiful surprise.
In America, the answer to the villager's problem would have been to cut the Sorceress' head off or some such thing.
In Kirikous and the Sorceress, the solution is very "African".
Heal the person and put them back in balance, and everyone will be better off for it.
Beautiful.