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Hollywood Film Review

Johnson Thomas

Film: Soul (Animation)

Cast(voice): Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton

Directors: Pete Docter, Kemp Powers

Rating: * * * ½

Runtime: 100 mins

(Streaming on Disney +, Disney Hotstar)

 

Pixar’s ‘Soul’ is a magical experience – one that manages to reach the heights that ‘Inside Out’ scaled a few years back. This animation film about a musician Joe who has an out of body experience and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul, is a brilliant psycho-social mapping of a human being’s growth processes. 

 

 

Joe’s soul is desperate to get back to his Earthly body but being mistaken for a mentor to 22 (Tina Fey) who has no desire to get her pass to an Earthly body, is an impediment he will have to overcome. Joe will have to convince 22 to get away from the abstract Great Before and into photo realistic New York. 

 

 

The narrative gives weight to an interpretation that could in logical terms be only imaginary. Yet, as an audience, we connect so entirely to this proposition that it becomes altogether enigmatic and philosophical in ideology. What we see and believe in here is a depiction of the soul with thought-provoking poignancy and heft. The animation craft is cutting edge and the story just draws you in. All the technical aspects are admirably high-end.

 

The opening sequences are a little difficult to follow given the heaviness of the subject matter but eventually it eases into a beautifully sublime emotional rollercoaster that makes you realise the value of life itself. Soul is beautifully put-together in that, it sends out a strong message without being overly obvious about its intent. Every facet here is well-thought out and presented in a visually colourful and amiable way - making it meaningful for both, the young and the old alike.

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