Seriously, don't expect anything from the songs. But otherwise I loved it!

[amanuensis1]

Dreamt Sunday night that I had to give an impromptu stage performance of the mayor's wife in The Music Man and I did it channeling Sian Phillips as Livia in I, Claudius. Seemed to go over well.

I think I had ancient civilizations on my mind last night because I got my hands on a DVD of the animated Joseph, King of Dreams and watched it Sunday. This was the direct-to-DVD Dreamworks follow-up to the success of Prince of Egypt. Now, I never hear a single word about this film, and I have lots of animation fans in my net circles, so I figured it was a critical flop. But I found it cheap and was curious.

I went into it with low expectations. I was astounded at how delightful it was! If you can overlook the utter forgettability of the songs (I can), I can hardly think of a thing to criticize. I never realized how hard it must be to make everyone in that story sympathetic. Joseph could come off as arrogant, his brothers could come off as brutes, Potiphar could be a foolish cuckold. But everybody lived. Flaws and gifts, hopes and despairs, there were so many full-fledged characters in that thing. I was amazed. They kept it a children-friendly story yet no one was reduced to one-dimensional motives. Even tricky adult-issue elements chose to practice very nice subtlety, such as Potiphar's wife trying to seduce Joseph; there was all this careful unspoken communication that just poured out of that important scene: Joseph knowing he can't accuse his accuser right back because he knows it'll be an unforgivable offense, Potiphar understanding what's really going on and hating it, and Potiphar's wife showing an ounce of compassion even while she protects her own interests first.

There's so much of that. They were so very careful, trying not to give the viewer facepalm moments. Joseph doesn't simply blurt out his dreams about lording it over his brothers, for example; it's carefully set up and he's not so naive to miss that they won't like hearing that.

I really, really liked this film. I'm sorry it seems to have been so overlooked. (It's on Netflix streaming; check it out if you feel like it!)

Comments

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Have you had a chance to read the Muslim variation of the Joseph story? It's fascinating, and portrays Potiphar's wife in a very sympathetic fashion. (She gets a name! She's Zuleika.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

No, but I love retellings of well-known stories! Is this something that's in the Koran? Or are you speaking of a different source?

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Caveat: I'm not Muslim, nor can I read Arabic or Persian. This is just my understanding from what I've read in English.

The story of Joseph/Yusuf and Zuleika I believe is from the Koran originally, but is one of those stories that is told and retold in a number of folk and literary versions. It was especially popular among classical Persian writers.

In Muslim tradition, Yusuf is the most beautiful mortal that God ever created. After his various trials by older brothers (left in a well, etc etc), he works for Aziz, a kindly rich man. Aziz's wife, Zuleika, falls passionately in love with Yusuf. Saintly Yusuf, while also in love with her (more platonically?) doesn't sleep with Zuleika because she's married and it would be sinful. Eventually, Aziz asks Yusuf to leave his service, just because people are starting to gossip and he doesn't want anyone's character stained. He trusts Yusuf (not sure if he trusts Zuleika as much?), and doesn't believe that they would sleep together, but he thinks it's wiser not to keep the tension going. Eventually, Yusuf reunites with his nicest brother, Benjamin, and their father, and manages to put his other brothers firmly in their place.

My favorite part of the story is when Yusuf is still working for Aziz, and Zuleika throws a party for her friends. They're all gossiping over the dessert course, and one of the women jokes about Yusuf's reputation for beauty. Surely he can't be thatgorgeous! Just then, Yusuf walks in with some dishes, and ALL the women, who are busy peeling fruit with their small knives, cut their hands in shock when they see how supernally beautiful he is. Apparently this causes their husbands to raise a few eyebrows, wondering what exactly was going on at Zuleika's party!

The story has variant endings for Zuleika. In one, she never gets over her love for Yusuf, and lives to be an old woman still praising his beauty and lamenting her grief and loneliness. In another, she's widowed and Yusuf and Zuleika find each other again and marry, (presumably) living happily ever after.

Zuleika's abiding love for Yusuf is often compared, in mystical traditions, to the soul's longing for God.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

What a great version of the story! I loved how you told it, too. It reads a little like a "what would have happened if people had just talked to each other for two seconds" calm version of the tale.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Dreamt Sunday night that I had to give an impromptu stage performance of the mayor's wife in The Music Man and I did it channeling Sian Phillips as Livia in I, Claudius. Seemed to go over well.

Oh, I WOULD PAY TO SEE THAT. (Livia: personal hero, LOL)

Maybe I'll check out Joseph someday, too. Though I'm sure he's no Livia. :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I love everything about I, Claudius--book and miniseries both. (I squee every time I see young Patrick Stewart, too!)

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Or as we say in my family, "Patrick Stewart with hair!"

[lokifan]

Ooh, this sounds great!

*adds to wishlist*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's fun and I feel like watching it again this weekend!

[belleamant.livejournal.com]

Ha! I used to own Joseph on VHS when I was in high school and always felt pervy wanting to write pseudo-Bible fanfic. It is a genuinely enjoyable movie.

Also, so much love for I, Claudius. The combination of the two roles made me giggle. I can see it.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

You know, I was thinking of putting in a disclaimer of, "And I DO NOT just love the movie because they show slave boys being prettied up and put into eyeliner. But I did like that part too. Maybe kind of a lot." ^_^

[sor-bet.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'm amazed that I can imagine exactly what you would be like playing the Mayor's wife by channeling LIvia. FINALLY! Someone on lj referencing something I know. :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Gotta love the idea of Hermione Gingold and Sian Phillips trading off lines in ANY role. And now I keep imagining Brian Blessed as the Mayor. "HAROLD HILL! I'LL HAVE YOUR HIDE QUICKER THAN BOILED ASPARAGUS!"