#redturtle

I was sad to have missed the red turtle on it’s initial release, particularly as a fan of Studio Ghibli’s work. I finally got a chance to watch it and was not disappointed. The movie features a man traps on a desert island, at first desperate to escape. The film ultimately chronicles this man’s entire time on the island, and that of the red turtle that prevents him from leaving.

The movie is the first feature long film directed by Michael Dudok de Wit, who was hired after the success of his short film Father and Daughter (2000). It is also a first for Studio Ghibli being that it is not a Japanese film. I am grateful that Hayao Miyazaki chose to pursue De Wit, he truly understands how to construct beauty, and Studio Ghibli animators have certainly elevated this. 

 A striking art style and stunning music direction was certainly required for this film, as it has no spoken words really. The difficulty with portraying desperation of being trapped seems near impossible, you can’t describe a man’s thoughts or feelings with voice-overs, or dialogue, but without words how is this achieved. In The Red Turtle emotions are described through gasps or music. Ideas or complex thoughts are shown through metaphoric dream sequences. 

My final thoughts leave me thankful I got to experience the telling of a man’s life and journey from impatient young man, to a wise and empathetic one. I was concerned that the length of the film may be too long considering the lack of dialogue but find myself comfortable with the length and almost wishing there was more. I would recommend this film to anyone that has yet to come to appreciate animation as media, as well as anyone already a fan of film it has to be one of the best of 2017. It can enjoyed regardless of any language barrier, and the story will captivate you.

Bahkan dari bentuk fiksi tanpa ada tersirat kata pun, ini salah satu karya terbaik aku terka. Aku menemukan banyak keindahan dalam diam. Tanpa seberisik kata-kata berisi, tanpa senandung sendu puitis mengisi kekosongan.

Ah, sekali monoton pun sudah aku banyak aku belajar. Penyu merah datang yang sayang, mengganggu, menemani, menjelma manusia, menghasilkan manusia lagi, ditinggalkan, dan meninggalkan.

Tidakkah aku sadar bahwa semua yg ku sesali dan ku benci sekarang masih saja mengitari dan tetap menelisik? Apa mungkin nanti itu-itu akan menjadi kebahagian yang sederhananya tidak aku sadari lalu kemudian membahagiankanku dan sirna pergi ketika aku juga telah puas akan semuanya?