The Red Turtle is a film of astonishing beauty and warmth. The debut feature of Michael Dudok de Wit, a co-production with Ghibli Studios, the animated film is without dialogue, speaking directly to the heart in images, movement and sound. The story is deceptively simple: a man is stranded on an island, and must find a way to survive. It has all the markers of a classic tale, yet is imbued with unexpected finds and imaginative treasures, told with humor and compassion.
The artistry of this film is breath-taking, suffused in wonder, immersing the viewer in the adventure. Opening with a storm at sea, turbulent waves wash over the full screen, and a man is tossed about, helpless in the water as his boat breaks on the rocks. The tempest with its force and grandeur is then followed by an unexpected close focus: a tiny crab pops up from the sandy beach and scurries into the wide-legged sailor pants of the sleeping man who has washed up on the shore. One cannot help but smile.
The nature is an awe-inspiring presence throughout, enhanced by the composition, which often allows bamboo forests, sandy beaches, ample sky and endless blue sea to fill the frame, with a solitary bird, man or crab accentuating the immense power of the natural world.
The bounty and perils of nature, the anguish of loneliness, and the rhythms of time and changes form this tale, as well as the joyous pleasures of the imagination, the delight of surprises large and small, and the abiding enchantment of love. Its themes recall Dudok de Wit’s poignant Father and Daughter, which won the Academy Award for Best Short Animated Film in 2001, and is a splendid fulfillment of the promise inherent in his short works.
The Red Turtle is a beautiful, compassionate film, an inspiring feat of storytelling and the artistic imagination.
Next screenings at the Jerusalem Film Festival:
Wednesday, July 13th at 16:30 and Thursday, July 14th at 20:00. Tickets may be ordered online via this link.
