The Red Turtle
[NOTE: I would highly recommend avoiding the trailer for this film, as it spoils far too much]
It spoke volumes when every single member of the audience I saw the Red Turtle with remained until the end of the credits. Such was the emotional power of this co-production between Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli about a man who is shipwrecked on a desert island.
It is a beautifully simple premise, stunning in its innocence while at the same time possessing a depth and weight that is rare in most films.
As expected from the much loved Studio Ghibli, the
animation is simply stunning. It is somewhat of a departure from their traditional style, with the work of Michael Dudok de Wit as director producing a wonderful mesh of hand-drawn and CGI images that create a lush, mysterious island untouched by man. The film provides an often awe-inspiring study of nature and the bases of humanity, touching on a number of heavy subjects with a wonderful subtlety and innocence.
It is a physical film that doesn't rely on dialogue to tell it's story. While this may sound a little odd, it works to perfection and leaves the incredible score to do a lot of the talking. Like the film itself, the soundtrack is rich with emotion and swells to extraordinary heights, serving to expand the emotional heft of the film rather than simply complement it.
It is hard to describe just what makes the Red Turtle so special without spoiling the experience. Simply put, it is a pure emotional and perhaps even spiritual journey that has to be seen. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the story, it is a far more perceptive film than you might be expecting.
It spoke volumes when every single member of the audience I saw the Red Turtle with remained until the end of the credits. Such was the emotional power of this co-production between Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli about a man who is shipwrecked on a desert island. It is a beautifully simple premise, stunning in its innocence while at the same time possessing a depth and weight that is rare in most films.
As expected from the much loved Studio Ghibli, the
animation is simply stunning. It is somewhat of a departure from their traditional style, with the work of Michael Dudok de Wit as director producing a wonderful mesh of hand-drawn and CGI images that create a lush, mysterious island untouched by man. The film provides an often awe-inspiring study of nature and the bases of humanity, touching on a number of heavy subjects with a wonderful subtlety and innocence.
It is a physical film that doesn't rely on dialogue to tell it's story. While this may sound a little odd, it works to perfection and leaves the incredible score to do a lot of the talking. Like the film itself, the soundtrack is rich with emotion and swells to extraordinary heights, serving to expand the emotional heft of the film rather than simply complement it.
It is hard to describe just what makes the Red Turtle so special without spoiling the experience. Simply put, it is a pure emotional and perhaps even spiritual journey that has to be seen. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the story, it is a far more perceptive film than you might be expecting.
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