Name: Mondo
Genre: Drama
Released: 1997-05-30
Duration: 1 h 20 min
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Ovidiu Balan, Philippe Petit, Pierrette Fesch

A solid adaptation of Le Clézio's short story

Mondo is based on a short story by French author J.M.G. Le Clézio. The story is the first in a collection of stories about children. In each narrative a child is in some way alienated from the dominant culture while at the same time embodying something that this culture is missing.

In Gatlif's retelling, Mondo is alienated by the busy consumer society of Nice, France: he is always hiding from city officials who try to arrest him and he feels ill-at-ease in the bustling downtown area. He makes his home among the other marginalized Niçois: the homeless, foreigners, gypsies, etc. Gatlif artfully frames the life of Mondo and his friends and makes the viewer feel sympathy for society's rejects.

Gatlif shows how Mondo changes people who let him into their lives while demonstrating the blindness of government agencies that deal with stray children.

An excellent film. Even my children love it.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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Mondo is a homeless young boy, with a big smile, who wanders around Nice looking for food and a place to sleep.

Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)

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Mondo

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