My Life as a Zucchini (B or 3/4 stars)
'My Life as a Zucchini' (directed by Claude Barras) is an Academy Award-nominated French/Swiss stop-motion animated film about a 9 yr. old boy named Icare - though nicknamed Courgette, or 'Zucchini' (originally voiced by Gaspard Schlatter, dubbed in English by Erick Abbate) - who ends up in a group foster home/orphanage after his alcoholic mom dies suddenly in a home accident. Raymond (originally Michel Vuillermoz, dubbed in English by Nick Offerman), the kindly police officer who takes 'Zucchini' to said group home, stays in touch with the sad little boy as he adjusts to the social hierarchy of that orphanage.
Young, red-aired Simon (Paulin Jaccoud) is the alpha kid/snot who tends to bully; but he eventually befriends our woeful little protagonist. The rest of the ragtag kiddies - Alice, Ahmed, Jujube & Beatrice - are sweet & low-key, but they ALL have heartbreaking family stories. The children bond & even form a routine ... and then new orphan Camille (originally Sixtine Murat, dubbed by Ness Krell) shows-up at the orphanage. 'Zucchini' is instantly enamored with Camille, but her time at the home is threatened by a cruel aunt who threatens to take Camille far away. Adventure, drama & poignancy ensue.
Rarely has an animated film been so charming - yet also so dark in tone - as this one. There are heartwarming, but also heartbreaking moments; it's great to see how resilient these young children are in the face of such sadness & adversity (violent upbringings, abandonment). Despite their difficult upbringings/backgrounds, 'Zucchini', Simon & every other child really just want to be loved and feel like they belong somewhere. Simon tells 'Zucchini' at one point, "They're all the same" -- whether it's because the parent(s) was arrested, deported, died, or disappeared. You know, for as lovely as the animation is and for as adorable as the kids are and for as uplifting as the ending winds up being ... parents be forewarned that the subject matter of this film IS dark; including aforementioned elements of abuse, violence, sex, suicide, deportation & death.
Like some Studio Ghibli or LAIKA studio's edgier animated offerings, My Life as Zucchini's sense of darkness is ... a bit refreshing. Not all animated films need to cater to the kiddies. And this one is clearly aimed for older kids/teens who are mature enough to appreciate the characters' circumstances {leave it to the Europeans to do this was utmost precision & success}. The plot here brings up A LOT, & it's all treated so very well -- from the intangible power of puppy love (‘Zucchini’ & Camille) to the bully redeemed (Simon) to the significance of friendship (all the orphans) to the idea that families can go beyond 'blood relations'. Whether it's the stunning stop-animation, the heady themes, the laughs, or the tears ... I highly recommend 'My Life as a Zucchini'. And at just over an hour long, there's no excuse not to check it out.
Young, red-aired Simon (Paulin Jaccoud) is the alpha kid/snot who tends to bully; but he eventually befriends our woeful little protagonist. The rest of the ragtag kiddies - Alice, Ahmed, Jujube & Beatrice - are sweet & low-key, but they ALL have heartbreaking family stories. The children bond & even form a routine ... and then new orphan Camille (originally Sixtine Murat, dubbed by Ness Krell) shows-up at the orphanage. 'Zucchini' is instantly enamored with Camille, but her time at the home is threatened by a cruel aunt who threatens to take Camille far away. Adventure, drama & poignancy ensue.
Rarely has an animated film been so charming - yet also so dark in tone - as this one. There are heartwarming, but also heartbreaking moments; it's great to see how resilient these young children are in the face of such sadness & adversity (violent upbringings, abandonment). Despite their difficult upbringings/backgrounds, 'Zucchini', Simon & every other child really just want to be loved and feel like they belong somewhere. Simon tells 'Zucchini' at one point, "They're all the same" -- whether it's because the parent(s) was arrested, deported, died, or disappeared. You know, for as lovely as the animation is and for as adorable as the kids are and for as uplifting as the ending winds up being ... parents be forewarned that the subject matter of this film IS dark; including aforementioned elements of abuse, violence, sex, suicide, deportation & death.
Like some Studio Ghibli or LAIKA studio's edgier animated offerings, My Life as Zucchini's sense of darkness is ... a bit refreshing. Not all animated films need to cater to the kiddies. And this one is clearly aimed for older kids/teens who are mature enough to appreciate the characters' circumstances {leave it to the Europeans to do this was utmost precision & success}. The plot here brings up A LOT, & it's all treated so very well -- from the intangible power of puppy love (‘Zucchini’ & Camille) to the bully redeemed (Simon) to the significance of friendship (all the orphans) to the idea that families can go beyond 'blood relations'. Whether it's the stunning stop-animation, the heady themes, the laughs, or the tears ... I highly recommend 'My Life as a Zucchini'. And at just over an hour long, there's no excuse not to check it out.