Film Review: Studio Ghibli's The Red Turtle
The thing about great movies is that they often leave you feeling out of breath, as if you've been submerged underwater and only just remembered to come up for air as the end credits start to roll.
That was how I felt after watching Michel Dudok de Wit’s rather magnificent animated feature film, “The Red Turtle.”
Billed as a Studio Ghibli production, the French-Belgian-Japanese animation is a castaway story at heart and opens with an unnamed man struggling to survive a violent storm while adrift at sea, before washing up on an island inhabited only by wildlife.
The man sets out to build a bamboo raft in an attempt to escape the island, only to be foiled time and again, by a red turtle. The film then takes a mysterious (and magical) turn as the turtle turns out to be more than just a turtle.
Oh, did I mention that the film is devoid of dialogue? We get cries of frustration and a few shouts of “Hey!” from the protagonist, but that is pretty much it.
If anything, it only serves to heighten the mood, and lets you appreciate other aspects of the film, such as the rich layers of background noise and the visuals, which are gorgeous, to say the least.
Minimalistic, but boasting an attention to detail that is second to none, the animation style certainly reminds one of Ghibli’s best works; with each frame a wonderful tapestry of art that evokes powerful emotion.
Where “The Red Turtle” really shines is its storytelling, as the film explores the themes of grief, loss, vengeance, joy, fulfillment, and love with understated ease. Where others shout, “The Red Turtle” whispers, and boy, does it do a good job.
The ending, when it arrives, is a tour de force that quite majestically encapsulates the circle of life.
The best films tend to linger on long after you’ve watched them, and in this regard, “The Red Turtle” is no different. This is a film that has a little something special for everyone.
Personally, I’d like to think of it as a poignant reminder that no matter how irredeemable a cause may seem, grace is never completely out of reach.
