This weekend: A Town Called Panic @ DFT

I once had a public argument with a certain photographer about the word "absurdist" (hi, Shane!). This adorable stop-motion film from Belgium (subtitled in English) looks like a fairly textbook definition of the term. A horse playing the piano? I'm in.

Detroit Film Theatre (DIA John R entrance)
A TOWN CALLED PANIC

January 29 - February 7, 2010

(Belgium/2009—directed by Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar)

Horse, Cowboy and Indian have a strange and wonderful relationship, especially considering that they’re plastic. Animating generic toys, the creators of this Belgian gem have fashioned an absurdist world that has plenty of room for friendship and love, birthday presents, online shopping, music lessons, and home improvements. Cowboy and Indian’s plan to give Horse a homemade barbeque backfires when they accidentally buy 50 million bricks. This sets off a perilous and wacky chain of events as the trio travel to the center of the earth, trek across frozen tundra and discover a parallel underwater universe of pointy-headed creatures. Hilarious and frequently surreal, this stop-motion extravaganza has endless charms and raucous laughs for children from eight to eighty. In French with English subtitles. (75 min.)

“Absolutely brilliant! Something truly special.” Peter Brunette, The Hollywood Reporter

A TOWN CALLED PANIC website

Friday, February 5 at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, February 6 9:45 p.m.
Sunday, February at 5:15 p.m.