There was one time my Mother and I were having a conversation about Disney films.
One thing that she felt struck with her, was that the filmmakers at Disney are so good at making films for children. They can give the young viewers a good vibe, make them laugh, a really useful plot, sometimes sprinkle a villain in there. He /she get defeated, we reach a happy ending and that kids that are watching the film, they are happy.
Very happy. Like 3 packets of skittles, unlimited amounts of energy type happy. Hahaha. Even though I'm laughing as I type that, that's a terrifying thought. But on the flip side Disney are also very good at giving deep, meaningful messages within the film and as adults we tend to notice that really quickly.
So here we have a Disney Pixar film, called Inside out (2015) directed by Pete Docter. It’s quite the rollercoaster, I can tell you that much.
Okay, okay, let me be a little bit serious for this. This film is really intriguing, as it follows the life of a young girl named Riley who grows up in Minnesota- somewhere in America if Geography is not your strong suit. She lives quite a happy life with her Mum and Dad, top of her hockey team, they’ve got a nice house with a garden, some nature there. As you can see, everything is going well and dandy. We also meet the different emotions that are in her mind which are personified. You've got Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear.
All of these little characters inside Riley's mind all work together, to make sure Riley has a good day, every day. No glitches allowed, no bad days (Daniel Powter will be disappointed. If you know, you know). On a side note, I feel as though the film deliberately mentions her age (she's 11) in order to say, this is an important part of her life that she's going through.
Now, unfortunately there is a sudden change to Riley's life as she is uprooted and she moves to San Francisco, as a result of her Dad's work which I find interesting, as his line of work is never mentioned (maybe we don't need to know everything eh? Or maybe it’s not important? *uses shrug shoulders emoji*) She has to leave everything behind that she knows. Alongside the stresses that come with moving, the moving van is somewhere in the wilderness (Texas) and all of the possessions belonging to the family is not to arrive for weeks. Riley also finds a pizza store that only serves pizza with broccoli on it. (She should have called the police, that's not okay.) Worst of all, she's moving into a new school, being the new girl, all of which is found to be quite daunting.
All the emotions working in Riley’s Mind’s Headquarters are having to work extra hard, well mainly Joy- she's trying to keep the mood afloat, not letting the other emotions take over. Like bringing in childhood memories, constant reminders, trying to keep Riley happy. Joy is challenged by Sadness trying to get involved and it leads to a confrontation to between the two emotions. As a result of that they find themselves in No Man's Land, out of reach from Headquarters and they are making a very desperate attempt to get back. As the film progresses, Riley is able to process her emotions and be candid with her parents, through the help of Sadness and Joy (along with the help of Disgust, Fear and Anger. Sort of). The film gives an ending that is satisfactory for the audience.
I have to say, this film was crafted so elegantly, the comedy was very well timed. It will make you laugh; it will also make you cry. It has all those cute moments like the imaginary friend, Bing Bong. He's the cute, fluffy friend everyone should have. That was a moment for the kids, it was beautifully put together.
I have to commend Disney/Pixar for creating this film through the lenses of an 11-year-old girl, who was going through some uncomfortable changes. There were times where it did feel uncomfortable with the differing emotions and I think it was the point, it's not meant to be comfortable. I think that's what the director was showing us that this is going to be a rollercoaster. Some moments are great, some not so much. You know what? That's absolutely okay.
There are going to be some changes in life that children process rather differently to the way adults do. Maybe that's why it was a rollercoaster to watch.
I don't know, but if you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend the film, young or old this film is for everyone.
The director, Pete Docter, I salute you sir.
Till next time.
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