- Inside Out. (2015. Dir, Pete Docter). 11-year-old Riley is trying to navigate a hard time --moving to a different city, with all her traditions and memories suddenly uprooted. But we are not just following Riley as she tries to adjust --we follow the journey of her main emotions as well. Primarily through Joy, who was the first Emotion and is herself trying to adjust to a situation she can't seem to make any better no matter how hard she tries. But perhaps the answer lies in listening to the things we usually try to push away...
Remarkable Pixar production, both from a technical point (it truly is cutting-edge animation) and from a storytelling one. At its heart a tale about the importance of acknowledging grief in order to grow up --and how as much as growing up always hurts, it is no less important. It is appropriate, then, that the movie is itself quite sad at times (it's the kind of movie intended for children that sometimes makes adults tear up more, from sheer nostalgia) --and ultimately optimistic, too. We follow Riley's transition towards a certain self-actualization. Her childhood ideals crumble and vanish (literally, inside her head), but in order to build something new. As she develops more complex world-views, her Emotions grow. Interestingly, Joy herself gets to experience her companion's emotions --she gets to experience being angry, scared, repulsed and sad, all in order them to better understand each other.
All in all, recommended. For all ages and all audiences, really.
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