We continue our series of reviews chronicling all of the (non-Studio Ghibli) animated films distributed by GKIDS Films — some of the most original and breathtakingly beautiful animated films from around the world — and how they hold up for a young American audience.

The entire retrospective is found here, and this time we’ve got…

Aya of Yop City (2013): Marguerite Abouet & Clément Oubrerie, directors

What’s it about?

The film follows 19-year-old Aya and her best friends Adjoua and Bintou as they navigate the ups and downs not only of their neighborhood of Yop City (outside Abidjan, Ivory Coast) but also of just being 19. Aya dreams of becoming a doctor, but her father (a rep for the local brewery) has his doubts. As do Aya’s friends, who are content with “Plan C”: combs, clothes, and chasing men. And it’s this plan that eventually (of course) bites them as Adjoua gets pregnant and must somehow tell the father, confront her parents, and deal with the father’s parents.

What follows is the story of illicit love, mistaken identity, friendship, betrayal, and the challenges of being honest with the ones we love.

(The trailer below doesn’t have English subtitles. I couldn’t find one online that does. Sorry.)

What are the cultures at play? And how about the languages?

Yop City is a vibrant “suburb” of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and the film is set during the 1970s. Even though the country achieved independence from France in 1960, French remains the official language. Thus, the film (based on a series of six French graphic novels written and illustrated by codirectors Abouet and Oubrerie from 2005-2010) is in French.

The film is set about 10 years or so after independence, but colonialism isn’t a major theme. Refreshingly. The film sets its cast of characters in Yop City and brings them to life. It’s a “slice of life” story set in a time and place most American audiences know very little about. It doesn’t denigrate or delegitimize. It celebrates. And even though it’s set 50 years ago, it convinced me to add Abidjan to my travel list.

Will my kids like it? Is there anything objectionable for young kids?

Once Adjoua finds out she’s pregnant, her immediate instinct is to have an abortion. There’s some frank talk about abortion and the dangers of getting one from the local midwife. Other than that, there’s nothing particularly inappropriate for young kids. There’s a fair bit of drinking, teenage talk about sex, and a scene with a character breastfeeding in public. But these things are part of life – they’re hardly “inappropriate.”

Will I like it?

I loved it. And I’ve already added the original graphic novels to my wantlist. (The English editions are published by Drawn & Quarterly.) I’m not sure how accurate its depiction of 1970s Abidjan is, but the film really gives you a sense for what life in the neighborhood was like. I just wish the Blu-ray release had a few extras; it’s a real missed opportunity to explore the graphic novels, the setting, and the historical context.

How can I see it?

GKIDS and Kino Lorber recently released a Blu-ray edition of the film. It’s a bare-bones affair with absolutely no extras. It’s available from all the usual outlets, including Amazon.

Final word?

You really should watch it. It’s only 88 minutes, so you don’t have much of an excuse. I can’t seem to find it streaming anywhere (which would be ideal since the Blu-ray doesn’t have extras), but definitely add it to your list. It’s super enjoyable and well worth the ride.