Tag: Coming of Age

[Fantasia 2024] In Sunburnt Unicorn, What is Alls Well Doesn’t Bode Well for Those Scared of the Future

The big question some people may have is with where in the world does the adventure in Sunburnt Unicorn takes place. It can be the Osoyoos here in British Columbia, or somewhere in Arizona–or could it be further?

Sunburnt Unicorn Movie Poster
North American premiere at Fantasia Film Festival 2024

Spoiler Alert

Frankie’s got a horn in Sunburnt Unicorn, and he doesn’t know how to use it. That’s because it may well be a car part embedded on his forehead after an accident has stranded him and his dad in a desert. As. for whether the fever dream that comes from being in the dry world for too long is real or not, I’m enjoying the concept! Here, the fauna identifies him as a saviour. Amusingly enough, I can imagine voice actress Diana Kaarina actually wearing a facsimile during recording.

This boy has issues. He’s not thrilled with the fact he’s going to a new school. Based on what I got from the argument they had preceding the crash, this lad was voicing his dissatisfaction. And with both their eyes off the road, just what he’s dealing with is a rather surreal parable concerning why it’s best not to behave; each talking critter he meets represents an aspect of himself, and what he learns to change his and their attitude makes for an interesting film.

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There’s No What IF, But Rather A Why It’s Best To Remain Forever Young

The best thing about IF is that it makes a lot of callbacks to familiar IPs without directly saying these imaginary friends are them.

IF (2024) Movie PosterStill playing at theatres and available on VOD

Unless the film buff hasn’t seen the promotional material for IF, not everyone will know it’s short for an imaginary friend. And just why they have this nickname is that once they’ve lost their way, their connection with the person who created him/her/it can threaten its existence, and that being will fade away.

Just why this matters in John Krasinski‘s delightful film is that it’s about how to remain true, but yet understand why facing adversity matters.

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Smells Like (Pre) Teen Angst in Inside Out 2. Looking at What’s New But Familiar in PIXAR’s Latest.

It’s rare to find a film that can be better than the original, and in what Inside Out 2 examines is how the Riley grows from being that quiet young girl to a confident woman.

Inside Out 2 Movie PosterAlthough nine years have passed since the first film, Inside Out 2 shows Riley (Kensington Tallman) only a year older, and needing to learn how to deal with the curveballs that having a social life throws at her! All those emotions awakened overnight after Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (Grace Lu) say they’ll be going to another high school than her. As a result, she’s concerned she may not have any more friends, because how they all met was when they showed compassion for the new kid.

In her mind, the headquarters where her individual emotions live gets rebuilt, and four new feelings join the team! They are Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Adèle Exarchopoulos). It’s not surprising these different groups don’t get along. Anxiety is the worst. This film shows how those what ifs manifest when uncertainty hides in every corner.

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A Cat’s Life Isn’t For Everyone, But You’ll Purr at This One

This charming coming of age tale looks at not only A Cat’s Life but also that of a young girl whose parents are about to divorce. It’s all about how to adapt.

A Cat's Life Movie PosterAvailable to view on Apple TV

A Cat’s Life is a German made film finally making its way to screenings in other countries. It’s an adaptation of the novel “Rrou” by Maurice Genevoix and is nothing like Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets (movie review). That’s because this story looks at what defines those relationships between animal and humankind. In this case, it’s about how Lou (as named by Clémence, played by Capucine Sainson-Fabresse) manages to win the hearts of viewers as she provides comfort to this young girl.

It’s sad to see that this kitty loses sight of his mother in the opening moments. Something happened, and he just left, to wander into the city streets and be found by a young girl. I hate to think there’s a sadder element as there’s no dialogue to explain what happened to his siblings and mother. What’s implied is very sad, and I hope the family survives. Continue reading “A Cat’s Life Isn’t For Everyone, But You’ll Purr at This One”

Nobody is Crazy in this Charming Coming of Age Tale

The best way to show how Nobody is Crazy is in showing how everybody should be treated even when adversity is everywhere.

Nobody is Crazy Movie PosterPlease check local film festival listings for screenings near you.

Anyone with an obsessive-compulsive disorder is easy to deal with. People just have to be more compassionate and know what to say in order to help them manage the everyday. But for Rafa (Manuel Gutierrez) in Nobody is Crazy, what he has to do is face what makes him the odd man out. He has no friends or people to turn to, and this actor does a remarkable job at selling the fact he can do better.

But when nobody believes that he has made a friend, a masked individual (who prefers to be recognized as Nobody) who claims to be from his future, the film by Federico J. Arioni is masterfully crafted to not let anyone in on the secret. It’s a very thoughtful low-fi time travel cum existential work that deserves continued film festival screenings worldwide. Even though this work was released back in 2019, getting noticed by well known movie celebrations is tough.

Also, I was amused at how this Argentine director puts himself into this movie by playing this hero who pops in and out of existence, like a conscience to offer sage advice to a lost boy.

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Arriving from Down Under, Scarygirl is Here to Save The Day in her Canadian Debut!

This Australian made film has some moments to make this animation stand out, and Scarygirl is a franchise few know about!

Scarygiurl Movie PosterAfter Scarygirl made its Canadian premiere at Spark! Animation Festival yesterday, I had to wonder who would pick up this rather cute Australian film. I’m fairly sure Shout! Studios will acquire it because this narrative packs an environmental type of punch. Back home, she’s very popular, and there are a lot of products featuring this sort of goth girl from the sea!

When Arkie (Jillian Nguyen) wears an eye patch and has arms of an octopus, I can’t help but think she’s half pirate and a creature of the sea. As for how capable she is as a hero, this film sets up what she must learn before she can face Dr Maybee (Sam Neil). He’s a human who is basically Lex Luthor. As a scientist, he’s rather feared, and as a governor, sort of revered since he’s promising to save it from self-destructing. However, what his people don’t know is that he’s destroying one far off world in favour of saving his.

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