Rise of the gauls

The Asterix comics haven’t had cinematic success. This seems set to change following its recent reinvention

April 18, 2015 06:43 pm | Updated 06:43 pm IST

A still from Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar

A still from Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar

India has long been in thrall to Asterix, Obelix, the rest of the indomitable Gauls and the lovably incompetent Romans created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Generations have grown up following their adventures and discovered hidden puns and witticisms upon reading and rereading the immortal comics — somehow, I can’t bring myself to destroy an integral part of my childhood by describing them as ‘graphic novels’. The comics are action-packed and the 2D animated versions, while doing a fair job of trying to recreate the magic of the printed page, didn’t quite get there.

In 1999, I looked forward to the release of Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar with tremendous excitement. It was a live-action film with Gérard Depardieu playing Obelix, and Christian Clavier, who was hilarious alongside Jean Reno as the bumbling time travellers in The Visitors ( Les Visiteurs in French), playing Asterix. The cast also included the impossibly beautiful supermodel Laetitia Casta, and Roberto Benigni, who was still riding on his Life is Beautiful triumph. Though I am normally (and correctly) particular about watching a film in its original language with subtitles, I had no issues with seeing the English-dubbed version this time, since the translation was in the capable hands of Monty Python alumnus Terry Jones. However, once the novelty value wore off, the film turned pretty dull. And, confusingly, for someone who knows the comics inside out, the plot was cobbled together from several of them. Nevertheless, I went into Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra in 2002 (French with English subtitles) with the same sense of anticipation. Depardieu and Clavier reprised their roles, while the beautiful Monica Bellucci played Cleopatra, the actor/director Alain Chabat played Caesar and the fiercely talented Jamel Debbouze played Edifis. The plot, this time, stayed close to the Asterix and Cleopatra comic and the resulting film was marginally better. By the time Asterix at the Olympic Games rolled around in 2008, the series was beginning to lose its fizz. The listless Clovis Cornillac replaced Clavier, and even the presence of the legendary Alain Delon as Caesar wasn’t enough. 2012’s Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia saw more Asterix personnel changes with Edouard Baer replacing Cornillac as Asterix and the excellent Fabrice Luchini as Caesar. French legend Catherine Deneuve, as the Queen of England, failed to add any sparkle to the tired franchise.

Thankfully, the series is now bursting with vitality in the shape of 2014’s Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods . The 3D animation format is so much more suited to the spirit of the comics. The sharp, witty script by co-director Alexandre Astier resonates with modern-day issues, including tourist traps and immigration, which can strike a chord with audiences across the world. Dare we hope for an India release soon?

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