La gran historia de la filosofía occidental

In Aria Covamonas’ scabrously funny satire, combining animation styles that blend pop and political imagery with a fantastical, painterly aesthetic, societal foundations are rocked to the core as a cosmic animator is forced, under Chairman Mao’s watchful gaze, to make a film about Western philosophy.

A cosmic animator incurs the wrath of the Central Committee and is sentenced to create a philosophical film under the unyielding gaze of Chairman Mao – who swiftly condemns them to death. Enter Comrade Monkey, Sun Wukong, determined not to let that happen. Chaos ensues, resulting in a wildly imaginative animated feature that collides popular and high culture, brimming with absurd mischief and references spanning from classical Greek thought to Mickey Mouse and Disney.

With its fantastical, painterly collage aesthetic, dadaist sensibilities, and hilarious dubbed Chinese dialogue accompanied by entirely invented subtitles, this Mexican animated debut feature offers a sharp and irreverent critique of political and popular culture. The sound design and music evoke the texture of vinyl recordings, adding to the film’s playful retro sensibility. La gran historia de la filosofía occidental is a witty, anarchic work of revisionism, gleefully dismantling sacrosanct ideas and traditions. Aria Covamonas’ exuberant creation might just have Bertrand Russell rolling in his grave – not from outrage, but from uncontrollable laughter.

– Vanja Kaludjercic

Trailer

Interview

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