A cautionary tale against human intervention in the natural world, “Mandibles from Far Away” is an earnest celebration of nature with enough quirks that will satisfy both adults and children looking for something a little different.
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Following the success of their first feature “Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants”, French directors Hélène Giraud and Thomas Szabo teamed up again for the sequel “Minuscule: Mandibles from Far Away”. This time, from the snowy valleys of France, a young ladybug is accidentally shipped off to the Guadeloupe island in the Caribbean. His father sets off to find him, and the two find themselves up against all kinds of dangers, from exotic animals to the resort construction threatening to destroy the forest.
Just like its prequel, “Mandibles from Far Away” is completely without dialogue. The characters “communicate” solely via expressive buzzing and whistling sounds that deliver as much, if not more, meaning and emotion as words could have. For those who have not watched the prequel, or just aren’t familiar with dialogue-less films, it might take a little getting used to at first. But very quickly, the lack of verbal expressions becomes natural as the visuals and sound effects take over the job of driving the narrative. The plot is also straightforward enough with some rather conventional “adventure” tropes that young audience won’t have any trouble following the story. Adults might, however, find the plot rather too simplistic.
Apart from the lack of dialogue, a notable feature about the film is its stunning visuals. In the opening scene, the wintry landscape of the French mountains is almost unnervingly realistic until the obviously animated bugs and insects with cartoonish large eyes appear. The combination of breathtaking real landscapes and 3D characters creates a world that is both magical and reminiscent of our own. From snow-capped mountains to tropical jungles, the film is an absolute visual treat that the audience can immerse themselves in without being distracted by lengthy dialogue and exposition.
A cautionary tale against human intervention in the natural world, “Mandibles from Far Away” is an earnest celebration of nature with enough quirks that will satisfy both adults and children looking for something a little different.
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