“The most precious of goods”: the animated tale of Michel Hazanavicius

A couple of lumberjacks live deep in a Polish forest. The wife still mourns the death of her child and implores the gods to send her a gift as the trains pass, carrying the Jews to Auschwitz. One day, she hears the cries of a newborn that she takes in against the advice of her husband, who shares with the local population a fierce hatred against these “heartless” people.

The voice of Jean-Louis Trintignant: a poignant legacy

One of the highlights of the film is the narration entrusted to Jean-Louis Trintignant, who signed one of his last projects before his death. The actor's deep voice, full of humanity, imbues the work with rare emotion. Michel Hazanavicius confides that this collaboration was obvious from the writing of the screenplay. Despite the actor's health constraints, this contribution had a profound impact on the director.

From Cannes to our screens: recognition for animation

Presented at the Cannes Film Festival in official competition, The most valuable commodity broke the barriers associated with the animation genre. Michel Hazanavicius underlines that this selection allowed the film to be perceived as a cinematographic work in its own right, reaching an audience that is sometimes reluctant towards animated films.

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