Zucchini goes to live in an orphanage after his alcoholic mother dies. The orphanage is not a bad place. This is not a bad-orphanage movie. It’s about the broken children who live inside. The kids are there for many reasons (deportation, mental health, abuse, poverty, etc); some can dream of one day returning home, while others know they never will. For the most part the children band together and support one another as they cope with loss.
My Life As A Zucchini is stop-motion animated in a very compelling way. It’s a simple story with colourful characters and a strange title but make no mistake, there’s little silliness awaiting you. It’s a pretty bleak story.
I watched the version dubbed in English, which features voice work by Nick Offerman, Will Forte, Ellen Page, and Amy Sedaris. But even with all this wonderful adult interference, director Claude Barras keeps the story firmly within Zucchini’s corner. The story is told through the eyes of children, almost without taint from the adult world. It is heartbreaking but also tender and compassionate. By focusing on the resilience of children and the difference even one caring person can make, hope shines its rays even on this dark little tale.
I enjoyed this very much. It’s not as heavy on the heart as it sounds, and Barras manages to wrap things up in under 70 minutes. I’m always a fan of the loving work that goes into stop-motion and this one is no exception – perhaps it is exceptional. The expressive characters and honest story give My Life As A Zucchini a sensitivity, like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. I’m very taken by this and am heartened to see animation tackling such complex characters so deftly. Definitely worth a watch, tissues at the ready.
I’v been a sucker for anything stop motion animation after watching Wallace & Gromit films!
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Me too. I am fascinated by the process.
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Oh I hope ain’t get to see this.
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Fek. Hope I get. Goddamit.
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I knew the spirit 😉
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Sounds like something I should see.
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This sounds pretty good. Added to the list!
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I just never think of a serious film as one done in animation. And I think this, despite having seen some serious animation films.
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I really liked this too, I was incredibly moved by it.
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I didn’t know what to think when I read the title, but this sounds like one worth watching. Thanks!
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I did enjoy this very much. Quite offbeat and gentle but it goes the distance.
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Thanks for sharing! You make me want to try it out:)
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This sounds sad but cute, Jay. Bittersweet film will be watched one of these days. 🙂
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