Manon des Sources Similarities to Hunchback

by

Way back in March 2013 I did a post of Jean de Florette, a famous movie from France and its similarities to the Hunchback of Notre Dame (you can read that post here).

Emmanuelle Beart as Manon in Manon des Sources picture image

Emmanuelle Beart as Manon in Manon des Sources

In that post I mention it’s second part, a film called Manon des Sources which follows Jean’s daughter, Manon played by Emmanuelle Beart. It takes several years after Jean de Florette.

Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) and Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) Manon des Sorces picture image

Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) and Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) Manon des Sorces

In this movie Ugolin sees Manon dancing naked and falls into a deep crazed infatuation with her. Manon has similar free-spirited innocence that Esmeralda had in the novel, she even has goats. Unlike Frollo’s obession with Esmeralda, Ugolin never tries to harm Manon but he does try to win her over but Manon despises him and his uncle for destroying her father. However like Frollo, Ugolin is undone by his love for Manon.

I highly recommend seeing these two movies, they are great.

Who is Esmeralda’s Non-Dinsey Counterpart?

by
Non-Disney Heroines; Thumblina, Yum-Yum,Odette, Chel, & Anastasia Picture image

Thumblina, Yum-Yum,Odette, Chel, & Anastasia

For every Disney Heroine, there is a host of Non-Disney animated female characters. From Thumblina, to Princess Yum-Yum to Odette to Chel to Anastasia the list goes on. But of the myriad of Non-Disney Heroines who could be considered Esmeralda’s counterpart?

 

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame dancing

It’s a tricky question. First off you need someone who has an equivalent look to Esmeralda i.e. a darker look but someone who isn’t royalty. Next, you need someone who fits her personality, brave, loyal, feisty, mature, and has a social conscious. That narrows the field a bit.

Given the necessary qualifications, I think the only choice for Esmeralda’s Non-Dinsey counterpart is …..

Tzipporah from The Prince of Egypt.

Tzipporah, The Prince of Egypt picture image

Tzipporah, The Prince of Egypt

Tzipporah start hating Moses as she was kidnapped and given Ramses. She is called a “Desert Flower” which plays in her being exotic. She is also played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who much like Demi Moore was considered a seductive actress.

 

A Lovely Shot from The Prince of Egypt , picture image

A Lovely Shot from The Prince of Egypt

Also Hunchback and The Prince of Egypt  are bit similar in their own right. Both movies are very stunning gorgeous, have a lot of drama and are underrated. I would highly recommend The Prince of Egypt  if you haven’t seen it already.

Kamastutra and The Hunchback of Notre Dame

by
KamaSutra; A Tale of Love DVD cover picture image

KamaSutra; A Tale of Love DVD cover

A film that has similar elements to the Hunchback is the 1996 movie KamaSutra; A Tale of Love. And yes it an Erotic drama period piece.

Indira Varma as Maya, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love picture image

Indira Varma as Maya, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love

First off, It’s an about a young women names Maya (Indira Varma) who has studied dancing. We have a young beautiful dancer, though Maya isn’t the prude as Esmeralda is.

Khalid_Tyabji as Biki, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love picture image

Khalid Tyabji as Biki, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love

Second, we have a Hunchback who is not too good this the ladies. The Hunchback who is a prince in this movie. Is in love with Maya. He is no where near as devote as Quasimodo.

Ramon Tikaram as Jai Kumar, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love picture image

Ramon Tikaram as Jai Kumar, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love

Third, we have two guys in love with Maya (in addition to the Hunchback prince). One is an artist who loves her more in a human way.

Indira Varma as Maya and Naveen Andrews as Raj Singh, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love picture image

Indira Varma as Maya and Naveen Andrews as Raj Singh, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love

The other is King who is obsessed with her. He even says his mood depend solely on her, which is true. When she rejects him even though she is his courtesan he get depressed and more dependent on opium. He is where near as complex or as interesting as Frollo.

Indira Varma as Maya and Naveen Andrews as Raj Singh, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love picture image

Indira Varma as Maya and Naveen Andrews as Raj Singh, KamaSutra; A Tale of Love

These similarities are coincidental and I highly doubt that KamaSutra; A Tale of Love was even remotely influenced by Hunchback but still the similar elements are striking.
KamaSutra; A Tale of Love isn’t the greatest movie in the world but it’s pretty and enjoyable.