La tortue rouge (2016)

In today's renewed era of an exploitation boom, it is quite a comforting surprise to give out monetary support for gems like this one. I did not give this title 10 stars because it is perfect. This animation does not have such an ambition. I gave it the highest possible score because it dares to be traditional and refreshing at the same time. It has the courage to aim for accomplishment instead of profit.

"La Tortue Rouge" is a sincere emotional ride, with little to show, yet a lot to tell. When I write 'little to show' I by no means do that to degrade the audio-visual presentation of this cartoon. The final result of the major cross-studio collaboration behind this movie is one of the most impressive and immersive rides in animation history. The thing is that the seemingly simplistic narrative unfolds so much food for thought and provides such vast possibilities for explanations, that the experience will stay and even evolve within the viewer for good.

When I left the theater, I felt a bit underwhelmed to hear people coming from another hall attempting to rationalize the blockbuster of the period. I can only hope that people will start watching more movies and (adult) cartoons like "The Red Turtle". Movies that make one actually think critically, philosophically and emotionally. Movies that can entertain despite not yielding to mainstream practice of filling our senses with fast-cut, orange/blue hued bad acting amid impossible explosions. Movies that teach us to be good folk.

Until then, people will fill up the theaters for the likes of Incoherence Day: Regurgitation, Star Scars Episode VII: The Forced Weakness, Borecraft, and all the permanent brain and soul damage inducing comic franchises. Only a small yet steadily growing group of people, with whatever reason to share the almost empty halls will seek beyond mindless entertainment by breathing in refreshing sparks of creativity that are fruits of actual effort and mastery.