With its fantastically designed puppets and brightly colored palette, Annecy prizewinner My Life as a Courgette tells the touching story of 9-year-old Courgette who is sent to a group home after his mother’s sudden death. At first struggling to find his place in this strange environment, Courgette gradually comes to find comfort and acceptance in his new home.

With great humor and masterful storytelling, the Swiss-born director Claude Barras’ feature debut takes a tender and subtle approach to a deeply dark and tragic subject (but keep those handkerchiefs ready, just in case).

This program screened as part of KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival 2016

Showing in this program

My Life as a Courgette

• Claude Barras
• France / Switzerland, 2016
• 66 min.

Courgette is an intriguing nickname for a 9-year-old boy. Although his unique story is surprisingly universal. After his mother's sudden death, Courgette is befriended by a police officer Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home filled with other orphans his age. At first he struggles to find his place in this strange, at times, hostile environment. Yet with Raymond's help and his new-found friends, Courgette eventually learns to trust, finds true love and at last a new family of his own.