Le lys de Belgique

This Wladyslaw Starewicz feature combines impressive animation with a worthwhile story. Although the story was particularly meant to make an impression on contemporary (mid-First World War) audiences, it still retains its effectiveness, and the animation has lost nothing, either.

The story of "The Lily of Belgium" is one of Starewicz's stop-motion animation creations, here framed by brief live-action sequences involving a girl and her grandfather. The main story is a memorable allegory of the war and, in particular, of Belgium's fate in it. The animated insects and other creatures are convincing in their movements and in their details. The beetles with their assortment of vehicles and weapons are particularly interesting, and their parade to the battlefield would be hilarious if their intent were not so sinister.

Starewicz's pioneering efforts are always interesting, and usually of high quality. This one is both, and it also has a worthwhile story that is no less so for using as its point of reference an event of so long ago.