La Luna

Just watched this Oscar-nominated Pixar computer animated short before the feature Brave with my movie theatre-working friend. He didn't know about this showing before the feature and was a little confused when it ended. I, however, knew about it but I didn't know what to expect. I mean, there's a young boy, his father, and his grandfather and they're on this boat and the moon is full...I'll stop there and just say that what happens after that is so wonderful and awe-inspiring and just such a sight to see that I don't want to reveal too much. Just that if you have an active imagination, you really shouldn't miss La Luna. I mean, don't expect any loud laughs but expect to maybe chuckle a bit at some of the way the three characters interact with each other. So, yeah, that's a recommendation.

This is one of the most favorite short films in my life. It starts from the scene on the boat - the boat with a boy, father, and grandfather goes on a silent, calm night ocean. The sounds of Spanish guitar is romantic, and I was attracted from the first moment. The little boy is always middle of his father and grandfather, and tries to behave like adults - so I can easily suppose it is a story of boy's growth. But the way to express it is really breathtaking! When the full moon rises, adults slowly prepare to climb to the moon! With the help of the anchor and ladder, the boy arrives at the moon, where lots of little star covers the surface. Again, I have never seen such an expression for the moon, and it tells us the image of warm, bright, and even cozy place for the moon, it is so surprising. While caught in a dilemma between the way of father and grandfather, they find a huge shooting star is coming. In an attempt to put it off, the boy finally finds his way to achieve the task. We do not have the answer to the question "What are they doing?" till the end, but once you look up the sky, the answer will be there.

I've seen it at the Disney D23 annual Event in Los Angeles today. Enrico Casarosa, writer and director of "La Luna", was present during the screening. He explained that it is a very personal project, and that the characters and their personalities were based on himself and also members of his family. I personally thought that it was a masterful work of imagination, beautifully animated and totally charming. The music was also perfect, thanks again to Michal Giacchioni. Pixar fans, and everybody else as far as i'm concerned, won't be disappointed. A magical and original experience. An academy award nomination awaits for this awesome short!

I don't know short films like these other guys do, but what I know is that after this short ended, I told my brother it was worth the price of admission just to see the cartoon. I say that, and I walked in the theatre after the short was well underway.

The music is great, it's simply great, and it makes the film. I find it fascinating that the music does so much, yet the animation is so entrancing that the music is felt rather than heard. It's rare to see something on par with excellent music.

I write this only because I'm desperately searching for an online copy, I must see it again.

It takes all of six minute to see the point of this, but that doesn't matter. Every step of the way we are introduced to little wonders. Why are these people out in this little boat? What's with the ladder? Why is the little boy included? All this is eventually explained. The visuals are crisp and sound. The music is so calming. When we think of moonlight, we think of centuries of people who have felt its spell. Don't miss this one. It can't help but raise your spirits.