L'enfant, la taupe, le renard et le cheval

Like many of you I bought the book a while book, captivated by the impressive art. The art and calligraphy is signature to the book. It made the leap into animation effortlessly and captured the essence of the message contained in the book with such warmth and humanity that it made me emotional.

The story centres around a boy who is inexplicably lost in a beautiful snowy landscape. It is a metaphor I guess as we as humans can find ourselves to be lost in many different ways.

The friends that come to his aid help each other. They do not judge and lean on each other for guidance and support.

The 30 minute animation is timeless and will become a feature for Christmas scheduling for years to come. The simple beautiful story is pan generational and global.

That unique style of dialog tells you right away that this 34 minute animated treat is an "existential" short subject from the BBC, and quite mesmerizing. The first task of the reviewer is to categorize the film to assist potential viewers, but I am coming up blank. In my over 2000 reviews here, I have never encountered a single story that sets out to deliver so much ... and succeeds. It is an adventure, it is a drama, it is a fable, it is animation for kids, it is animation for adults, and it is also a morality tale. It is an unforgettable half hour. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

For me who is a female living in China,the mole refers to eldership because he really moves slowly like an old person. And even if his words imply he is coward,he still acts like a valiant when he rolls across the hill or when he steps into the trap to save the fox.

That's how the chinese elderships live:they bury their sincere heart and always say that they are getting tired of the life. But deeply inside,they are still hoping to enjoy the life just like the youngsters.

The culture in our society dosen't motivate elder one to keep going further. In fact,age discrimination is everywhere. People believe that a person should do particular things in particular age. For example,when you are 22 years old,you should garaduate from college and go get a good job;when you are 30 years old,you should raise a family and you should have at least one child;when you are 35 years old,you should ether be a successful person or a looser waiting to be fired.

And when you are older than 40,on one will expect any thing good on you. You can never change your life or your job at that age,because that costs a huge sacrifice. And even if you want to do that,you may still not succeed,because there is no new place for you in the society,unless you want to do the hard labor job such as cleaning the street.

That invisible chain teriifies people,force them to take a regular role in their life.

As I am getting older in age,I hope I will always remenber this mole,and be brave to be myself.

'The Boy, The Mole', The Fox and the Horse' (2022)

Opening thoughts: 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' was one of my most anticipated viewings last Christmas, and was watched with very high expectations. Actually to be honest, it was one of the few new things airing on television last Christmas that was really looked forward to. Animation and Christmas have gelled together many times over the years, with a large number of classics. The book is also beautiful, very charming, thought provoking and emotional.

Fortunately, those high expectations were not only met, they were actually exceeded in the best possible way. It couldn't have been a more perfect adaptation of the book, with it being its equal in quality and containing everything that made the book so good. It is also absolutely magical on its own merits and to me it was one of the clear highlights of the festive season. Which is saying quite a lot, seeing as for me 2022 was not one of the best years when it came to festive television.

Good things: Everything. What immediately stood out was the animation, which is absolutely exquisite and really made me wish that traditional picture book like animation was seen and utilised more these days. Loved the colours and the fluidity of the character designs, and that the backgrounds were kept simple was a wise move and matched the simplicity of the storytelling perfectly. The music is very soothing and did appreciate that it wasn't used or featured constantly and that it didn't go for large orchestral scoring or busy rhythms and instead went for the gentle, intimate approach.

Moreover, the dialogue is adapted beautifully. Admittedly, there are a lot of quotes and phrases, like the book. To me though it didn't feel too talky or rambling, remarkable as both happens a lot when anything is heavy in dialogue or phrases. Luckily, the quality of the dialogue is extremely thoughtful and profound. Loved the storytelling, it is slight and it does not go at a fast pace, but the tone of the book is gentle and fast and furious pacing would not have worked or gelled with the dialogue.

A fantastic job is done with staying true to both the detail and spirit of the book, it is a very faithful adaptation, like the book coming to life, but it did not feel overly so. Never to me did it feel sluggish or draggy, which can happen with adaptations that follow their source material very closely. Every ounce of the charm is still intact, and my heart was still warmed and touched. Especially at the end, where tissues are necessary. All four lead characters are easy to root for, Mole being my favourite, and beautifully voiced. Very nice to see a more understated side to Idris Elba.

Closing thoughts: In summary, magical. One of the easiest 10/10s given out in a long time.

10/10.

In a world that is often dark, Charlie Mackesy's words and illustrations of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, have served as moments of light. Beautiful in themselves, but more than that - they shine that light within ourselves to remember the good, the gentle, and the strength in kindness in our own lives and the world around us. The four much-loved characters stepped out of Charlie's imagination and into the world on Instagram, before finding a permanent home the best-selling book released in 2019. The TV adaptation, released on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Eve - and worldwide on Apple TV+ on Christmas Day - brings the friends to life. It's 35 minutes of exquisite, peaceful light, born to become a modern Christmas classic. "I'm lost," says the Boy, voiced in heartbreaking gentleness by Jude Coward Nichol. Two words that will have resonated with many at some stage in this post-pandemic weary world. Charlie's drawings touched something within during those dark days of lockdown. Their kindness, humour and hope reached through the page, bringing comfort and connection. Simply put, it's beautiful, whether you enjoy Charlie's drawings and wisdoms as inspiration, comfort, self-reflection, or purely for their charm. It's as if you have stepped into the book itself. Hug your horses extra tight, be kind to yourself, and to quote the Mole, "I'm glad we are all here". While the book has no linear plot, the film needed one. And so Charlie's words and wisdoms have been woven into a script, taking the characters on a journey through a dream-like snowy landscape to find "home", set to a soundtrack by Isobel Waller-Bridge. And that messaging of kindness and gentleness translates gracefully from page to screen. Charlie collaborated with Jon Croker on the adaptation, and is also named as co-director alongside Peter Baynton. That involvement by the author is perhaps behind why the feel is just so close to the book.