The Red Turtle (2017)

Simply Perfect

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is a classic, understated and beautifully animated film. In the age of frenetic action movies and digitalized special effects, this may seem out of place but it is a reminder why Japanese animation and Ghibli Studios still reign supreme. Yes, the film is slowly paced, but the simplicity and beauty of the story, partnered with gorgeously hued hand-drawn and colored animation remind us why animation remains an art that few can master. The pace is slow, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. For those who are looking for things to "happen", this film may not be your cup of tea. For those who are ready to surrender to the story completely, this movie is pure magic. One of my all-time favorite animated films!

Sometimes you've just got to beat a torturous turtle to death, then impregnate it when it comes back to life. And when you die, that 200 year old turtle is going to find someone else to torture.

I've not seen many films that have little to no dialogue, and immediately this reminded me of 'All Is Lost'. An international co-production between Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli, this is simply a story of a man stranded on a remote luscious island where he must be forced to survive. Well...at first it seemed like that. Then he encounters the titular red turtle, survival has now turned into an intimate sublime view on life and death. It's hard not to appreciate a film that attempts to push boundaries, to use the medium as a means of art as opposed to mindless entertainment. The Red Turtle is just that. Art. Absolutely gorgeous animation, truly superb. The detail in the landscape and characters is rather minimalistic, but it's the colour palette and effortless blend of the greyscale pigmentation that elevates this cinematic piece to an exceedingly high level. As with many contemporary artsy films, the story itself is fuelled by metaphors. The subtext that lurks beneath the colourful surface. I'm sure you could interpret this in various ways, from the religious "Adam & Eve" connotations to the neglect of wildlife. I personally viewed this as the latter. A pivotal scene where the red turtle is washed ashore, our silent character does something. It evoked feelings of shock and disappointment but it was conveyed as a microcosm for society and how we treat wildlife. I'm still trying to work out the symbolism of the turtles but the beauty of such a short rapid film is that I can easily watch it again. The lack of dialogue doesn't deter from connecting with the story, in fact the characters had personalities. Sure they were simple, however it was well presented. Even the island itself felt like it had a personality of its own, especially with the wide variety of wildlife that reside there. The musical score was also breathtakingly beautiful, gave me goosebumps. All in all, The Red Turtle was a visual treat boosted by a mature metaphorical story to keep you intrigued.

Setting aside the gorgeous island visuals and emotional minimalist plot, the real beauty of The Red Turtle is the accessibility and interpretation offered by the film to each unique viewer. It's probably too slow paced for young children, but well rewarding for older audiences, presenting eye candy and subtle film nuances at every turn.