Out of all the animated works The National Film Board of Canada has produced over the years, The Girl with the Red Beret (La fille au béret rouge) ups the ante on what “slice of life” means. Here, what gets presented is about an experience and how one little girl sees a an entire world can unfold in Montreal as she rides the Metro.
It’s possible to experience a lot when riding public transit. And what’s presented is not just about whom she encounters, but also in how time marches on. There’s no big story here. Although I was paying attention to the pickpocket’s attempt to steal from this young lady, that narrative disappears midway. Afterwards, another plot popped in and I had to ask why attempt to transport a large couch on this ride? I’m sure others have tried in real life, and failed.