The short, simple style of Marie de France’s lai “Milun” lends itself easily to an adaptation into a short film in the style of silhouette animation. The goal of this film will be both to maintain the meanings present in the original lai as well as to expand the audience that is able to appreciate the poem. The length of a short film maintains the structural integrity of the story in its entirety while also making it accessible to audiences who may not feel equipped to read and interpret this kind of poetry. It also supports the idea of “Milun” as a performative piece, while enhancing it as a spoken piece, as Marie’s lais were often retold orally to the royal courts (Norton 142). Using a verbal medium maintains the experience of hearing the poem aloud while some visual detail will amplify and clarify the experience of the story. The visual and oral style will convey the whimsical atmosphere of Marie’s lai and reflect the high romantic love between Milun and his lady. The voiceover method also accounts for the lack of dialogue in this piece and prevents the adaptation from being forced into adding conversations between characters to make the romance and plot progression believable. Minor background noises and sound effects will be included for narrative effect during the appropriate scenes, such as laughter during Milun’s first meetings with his lover and the sounds of swords and horses during the jousting scene.
