Notre Dame de Paris

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a film released by Walt Disney Pictures during the disney renaissance. The film is loosely adapted from Victor Hugo's acclaimed 1831 novel. The film focuses of the bellringer of Notre Dame cathedral on the Ile De la Cité, and his relationship with Judge Claude Frollo, a man who he refers to as 'Master', who rescued him when he was a baby, and who teaches him that the world is a cruel place. The film tones down the characters religious undertones, in the book he is an archdeacon, whereas in the film he is a Judge, with clear religious affiliations. The film is darker in tone than most disney films, and liberally uses gothic and religious undertones.

The film is stunning, and uses computer animation to create fantastic animated backgrounds, traditionally on hand drawn animated film the backing plates are hand painted and never move, on Hunchback, the backings are computer animated, and thus the film turns into a beautiful living painting. The backing plates still look hand painted, but they move, and the bells actually swing, a rarity in hand-drawn animated films. The look of the film is also much darker than other traditional disney films, ironically with light being used to great effect. This is one of the first times that actual rays of light were used on animated films, an, with Quasimodo showing Esmeralda the sunset over the city of Paris, and Notre Dame Cathedral peeking through the clouds and being lit by the morning sun, Notre Dame cathedral is also show looming ominously over the city of Paris, with the people and the houses being miniscule in comparison.

The film is highly critical of organized religion, whilst also being a commentary on faith and belief. The films villain, Judge Frollo has clear religious affiliation, with hig wearing a high collared shirt, much like a priest, and black robes like a Franciscan monk. Frollo believes that it is his job to purge the world of sinners, and all those he considers unworthy and evil. He believes that his work is all supported by gods will, and thus that he is fundamentally right. His views are often those supported by fundamentalist christian groups, as he is racist, bigoted and arrogant, and believes that he is above all laws, even gods law, as he frequently breaks the 10 commandments. The character acts as a symbol of religious hypocrisy, preaching about good and lust, yet having deeply lustful feelings towards Esmeralda, asking her to 'choose him or the fire', architecturally the cathedral looms ominously over the city, dwarfing all and sending a message about the oppressiveness of organized religion.

Another message of the film is that of acceptance and equality, the film teaches us to accept people who may be different to them, Frollo wishes to eradicate paris of gypsies, feeling them to be evil and impure. This situation mirrors what is happening in western europe at the moment, as local governments attempt to eradicate gypsies presence, trying to flush them out by depriving them of water, sanitation and electricity, and making them feel like vermin. The film eventually teaches tolerance, and justice, and although Frollo is a judge, he preached his own, narrow form of justice, and had no respect for true equality.

The film also teaches the message that people are inherently good. Frollo tells Quasimodo that the world is a cruel dark place, and that he must stay inside the cathedral for his own protection. Quasimodo eventually learns that the world is a place that is inherently good, and that people are generally good, this is illustrated when a young girl hugs his, in spite of his hideous appearance. Esmeralda treats Quasimodo without judgement of pity, despite how he looks, and he in return provides her with protection.

The film can also be seen as a commentary on faith, as opposed to religion. Characters who are encouraged to believe in damnation and hell, find god through beauty. The beauty of the sunset above the streets of Paris and the beauty, inside and out, of the character of Esmeralda. The film is a critique of the way religion divides people, and how it encourages people to fear damnation, Frollo tells Esmeralda that he will smite her into the fires of hell, right as he falls off the parapet into the molten lava below. It also states that what you see isn't what you get, and the audience is encouraged to divine 'who is the monster and who is the man'.

Overall 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' is a fantastically rich and complex tale which does justice to Hugo's original tale, whilst altering it to make it appropriate for a younger, modern audience, and while diluting some of the more overtly provocative themes. The music is also fantastic, and a chorus is heavily featured in this film, inkeeping with the films religious undertones. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a forgotten classic, which has been unfairly overshadowed by other films of the Disney Renaissance. I guess it helps that the film agrees with my personal political beliefs. Rating: A-

Frollo: The time has come, Gypsy. You stand upon the brink of the abyss. Yet even now it is not too late. I can save you from the flames of this world, and the next. Choose me, or the fire.