I expected nothing less from Michael Dudok de Wit, author of the heart-melting short animation "Father and daughter". The Japanese Studio Ghibli gave him the space to direct his first feature animated film, and he made "The red turtle", a meditative spectacle of human life as part of nature, told silently and gracefully, in vivid shades of water-blue and starry-gray.
A nameless man is stranded on a island, a mysterious place that has its own beat, with little crabs playing around, sudden rain showers and hidden passages through rocks and bamboos. The man however longs and needs to leave back the other side of the sea, and we know little as to what awaits there (music, perhaps, as in one of his dreams?).
The man builds a raft and sets off with some fruit as supplies. However, his raft is hit and shattered by a large, staring, red turtle. He builds a new raft and tries again, only to have to swim back after yet another attack. After the third attempt, he is angry, and releases this anger by hitting the turtle, who has followed him back to the beach, and turning it upside down for it to die.
As hours and days pass, the man keeps returning to the turtle, and his remorse settles in. He tries to turn the turtle back on its feet, but it is too heavy. He brings it water, but no avail. And then, to his astonishment, he sees a red-haired-woman in that turtle shell.
I would rather stop my storytelling here, allowing for any viewer to be surprised by how the story will unveil from this point, and simply wonder why the red turtle became the woman companion.
The couple that forms could be the primordial one, the first humans on that corner of the earth, who will follow the cycle of life, love, and care. The red turtle prevents the man from leaving the secluded island by hitting the raft, a blow so strong it breaks it in one attempt, yet, when the man floats helpless underwater, the turtle does not harm him. Back on the beach, the turtle does not display its strength as the man takes his revenge. Its mistery is that of the spark of life itself, humble, but decisive. Further, the woman only reveals herself when the man regains his kindness and respect for the creature, as if to reward his gentleness and soothe his despair.
The animation is superb in its simplicity. I can only wish it will reach as many people as possible.
The man builds a raft and sets off with some fruit as supplies. However, his raft is hit and shattered by a large, staring, red turtle. He builds a new raft and tries again, only to have to swim back after yet another attack. After the third attempt, he is angry, and releases this anger by hitting the turtle, who has followed him back to the beach, and turning it upside down for it to die.
As hours and days pass, the man keeps returning to the turtle, and his remorse settles in. He tries to turn the turtle back on its feet, but it is too heavy. He brings it water, but no avail. And then, to his astonishment, he sees a red-haired-woman in that turtle shell.
I would rather stop my storytelling here, allowing for any viewer to be surprised by how the story will unveil from this point, and simply wonder why the red turtle became the woman companion.
The couple that forms could be the primordial one, the first humans on that corner of the earth, who will follow the cycle of life, love, and care. The red turtle prevents the man from leaving the secluded island by hitting the raft, a blow so strong it breaks it in one attempt, yet, when the man floats helpless underwater, the turtle does not harm him. Back on the beach, the turtle does not display its strength as the man takes his revenge. Its mistery is that of the spark of life itself, humble, but decisive. Further, the woman only reveals herself when the man regains his kindness and respect for the creature, as if to reward his gentleness and soothe his despair.
The animation is superb in its simplicity. I can only wish it will reach as many people as possible.
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