Review: The Red Turtle (2016)

A man left shipwrecked on an island tries to escape, but find his efforts being thwarted by a red turtle...

Often with the films, the less you know about it before the better. In the case of The Red Turtle, although I'd heard people raving about the film beforehand, but I'd never looked up any details, or even looked at the trailer.

I'm glad I did that, as The Red Turtle is a magical film, one that plays like a fairy tale.

That's not really a surprise, when you consider that this film is a co-production between Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli have made some of the most imaginative animated films ever, such as the classic Spirited Away and there influence is all over this film.

The animation is stunning. Because the film has no dialogue, director Michael Dudok de Wit (who also came up with the story) uses the visual aspect of the film to tell his tale, including the emotional aspect of the film, which it does superbly. The film is helped by a great score from Laurent Perez Del Mar, which helps convey the emotional side of the story.

And it is an emotional film, which much like A Monster Calls earlier this year, really hit me hard. It's a film that deals with love, life, death brilliantly and at moments nearly had me in tears. Two films in one year having that effect? Damn I'm getting soft! Ahem, anyway...

While the story itself may not hold any real surprises, the ending might be seen by some before it happens, I didn't care one iota. The Red Turtle, like truly great films either animated or not, deals with its themes superbly, in ways that are both charming and powerful.

If the ending of the film is a little heartbreaking, everything that happens before then will have your spirits soaring.

I realise I'm all over the place with thoughts about The Red Turtle, but that's the impact it had. You will smile, cry, feel sad and overjoyed at times watching the film.

There's been several great films this year so far. But The Red Turtle isn't just great, it's a masterpiece of animation and easily a contender for best film of the year.

Don't miss it.

Rating - 5/5