Astérix Le Domaine des dieux

On October 29, 1959, the creative collaboration between scriptwriter René Goscinny and cartoonist Albert Uderzo gave birth to the iconic characters of the Asterix the Gaul universe, in the first issue of the Pilote newspaper. The enduring appeal of this Gaulish village in Armorica, portrayed as the only resistance against an oppressive adversary seeking world domination, has made Asterix a compelling advocate of resistance and freedom of expression. With a worldwide success that transcends language barriers - published in 107 languages and selling over 350 million copies. This comic strip has become a source of pride for our nation. Just as the Belgians have Tintin, we have Asterix the Gaul. From the publication of the first album in 1961 (Asterix the Gaul) to the latest opus, Asterix and the Picts, there have been a total of thirty-five comic strips, eight animated films and four live-action film adaptations (Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar (1999), Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008) and Asterix and Obelix: At Her Majesty's Service (2012)) have enriched the Asterix legacy.

Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods is the ninth animated adaptation, based on the 1971 album of the same name. On closer inspection, this animated film appears to be the most commendable adaptation, not only because it preserves the spirit of the original comic strip, but also because it succeeds in setting it in our contemporary context. Although the story is set in 50 B.C., when Gaul is almost entirely occupied by the Romans and Julius Caesar is trying out new strategies against the indomitable village, the film skilfully interweaves historical elements with modern relevance.

This time, Caesar's Machiavellian plan is to create a luxurious residential area next to the Gallic village, with the intention of imposing a new way of life on its inhabitants. Gone are the linear adaptations centered on Asterix's magic potion-induced feats of strength. The directors, Alexandre Astier, Jean-Rémy François and Philip LaZebnik, seem particularly intrigued by this change, where a simple magic potion cannot solve the story's dilemma.

Co-director and co-writer Alexandre Astier's approach proves to be the most pertinent. Unlike previous adaptations that simply followed the comic-book narrative, Astier juxtaposes his iconoclastic humor with the Asterix universe, creating a winning combination. Tackling diverse themes such as slavery, contemporary societal problems reflected in decadent urbanism, and moral and family values, the film transcends the realm of seamless animated storytelling. It revitalizes characters who are an integral part of our intellectual culture.

In keeping with previous adaptations, the directors have retained Roger Carel as the voice of Asterix, highlighted the voices of popular actors (Lorànt Deutsch, Alain Chabat, Laurent Lafitte, Elie Semoun), and faithfully recreated Julius Caesar and the Gaulish village. In particular, they succeeded in reinventing the Obelix character, incorporating elements reminiscent of King Kong and the Hulk, as in the scene where Obelix climbs a building. The use of the magic potion for the first time to rectify circumstances is a deliberate attempt at innovation.

The splendid animation, reminiscent of recent American animated productions, demonstrates that French cinema, like the Gallic village, can stand up to American hegemony. For these reasons and many others, Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods is one of my ten favorite animated films.

By Toutatis, to miss out on such a cinematic gem would be to miss out on one of the best films of the year.

Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods
Directed by Louis Clichy, Karl Willems
Written by Alexandre Astier, Robin Lyons, Andrew Offiler, Bill Speers
Based on The Mansions of the Gods by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo
Produced by Philippe Bony, Thomas Valentin
Starring Jack Whitehall, Nick Frost, Greg Davies, Matt Berry, Catherine Tate,Harry Enfield, Richard McCourt, Dominic Wood, Jim Broadbent
Edited by Soline Guyonneau
Music by Philippe Rombi
Production companies : M6 Films, Belvision, Grid Animation
Distributed by SND Groupe M6
Release dates : 26 November 2014 (France), 19 August 2016 (UK), 23 June 2017 (USA)
Running time : 85 minutes

Seen November 17, 2014 at Gaumont Marignan, Room 01