The Three Questions

Based on a 2002 children's book by writer/illustrator Jon J. Muth (inspired by Leo Tolstoy's short story of the same name), this iconographic animated adaptation, narrated by actor Richard Dreyfuss, opens with an introduction by the author, who encourages young viewers to note the differences between Tolstoy's version and his own. Chief among the variations is the kid-friendly substitution of talking animals for military and bureaucratic personnel in this tale of a young boy named Nikolai's quest to answer three big questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? His friends--Serge the heron, Gogol the monkey, and Pushkin the dog--all offer conflicting advice, but a visit to the sage old Leo the turtle, combined with an emergency situation in which a panda and her baby are endangered during a storm, lead Nikolai to the story's Zen-based conclusions about living and acting in the moment. The combination of beautiful illustrations, wonderful narration, and wise narrative make for a fine children's film that will be enjoyed by adults as well. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)