A monster Calls
Monster Calls is a movie from J. A. Bayona based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Ness. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson. It tells the story of a boy coping with the terminal illness of his mother.
From the start of the movie, the story is very well framed. It is to be an emotively charged journey through the eyes of Connor (not a boy anymore but not quite an adult). The story revolves around this young boy, a bit too clever for himself. He knows that is mother is more than sick, she is dying but he refuses to see it. This denial is slowly eating him from inside and he must find a way to come to terms with the situation. Enters the Monster that will help him and his family cope with the situation and doing so, save them from destruction.
The movie is very well directed and visually just. It blends carefully the reality with the fantastic elements. The special effects are impressive and respectful of the author description and illustration. The casting is of good quality, especially Liam Neeson as the voice of the monster.
Beyond the pure technicalities of the movie, what is the most remarkable is the story. The many aspects of growing from childhood to adulthood. How adulthood is not black and white but full of grey areas. How sometimes a lie serve a good purpose and sometime good people do bad things. These themes are presented in the form of four tales that each put lights on the complexity of the human. The fables help Connor understand why the people around him act like they do. They try to protect and take care of Connor but masking the truth even with good intention, may have devastating effect. Even though they kind of betrayed Connor, they are not evil. “There is not always a good guy in a story, nor is there always a bad one”.
This movie touched me as a parent. Naturally we try to protect our children from harms, especially emotional ones. Doing so rob them of an important life lesson. Life is not always fair but everyone must face it. At one point, Connor tell his mother: “You can tell me”. Even then she is not able to speak to him. Keeping false hope in the mind of her son.
It also touched me as a son. No one wants to lose its parents and we sometimes lie to ourselves placing false hopes in some magical powers. We also wrongfully take responsibilities for what happens to others. This a mistake that cause even more pain.
I’m looking forward to watch the movie with my kids to talk about the messages hidden in the tales of the Monster. Still I would be cautious to whom I recommend it. The beauty of the movie is not in action scene but in the subtle messages. It is a drama for mature children and above. As the story unfold it becomes more and more intense and emotional.
Note on the author. The novel was written by Patrick Ness (an awarded author) but is based on an idea from Siobhan Dowd. Herself an author she was diagnosed with a terminal cancer (which inspire the concept of the book) and died before the novel was completed.
From the start of the movie, the story is very well framed. It is to be an emotively charged journey through the eyes of Connor (not a boy anymore but not quite an adult). The story revolves around this young boy, a bit too clever for himself. He knows that is mother is more than sick, she is dying but he refuses to see it. This denial is slowly eating him from inside and he must find a way to come to terms with the situation. Enters the Monster that will help him and his family cope with the situation and doing so, save them from destruction.
The movie is very well directed and visually just. It blends carefully the reality with the fantastic elements. The special effects are impressive and respectful of the author description and illustration. The casting is of good quality, especially Liam Neeson as the voice of the monster.
Beyond the pure technicalities of the movie, what is the most remarkable is the story. The many aspects of growing from childhood to adulthood. How adulthood is not black and white but full of grey areas. How sometimes a lie serve a good purpose and sometime good people do bad things. These themes are presented in the form of four tales that each put lights on the complexity of the human. The fables help Connor understand why the people around him act like they do. They try to protect and take care of Connor but masking the truth even with good intention, may have devastating effect. Even though they kind of betrayed Connor, they are not evil. “There is not always a good guy in a story, nor is there always a bad one”.
This movie touched me as a parent. Naturally we try to protect our children from harms, especially emotional ones. Doing so rob them of an important life lesson. Life is not always fair but everyone must face it. At one point, Connor tell his mother: “You can tell me”. Even then she is not able to speak to him. Keeping false hope in the mind of her son.
It also touched me as a son. No one wants to lose its parents and we sometimes lie to ourselves placing false hopes in some magical powers. We also wrongfully take responsibilities for what happens to others. This a mistake that cause even more pain.
I’m looking forward to watch the movie with my kids to talk about the messages hidden in the tales of the Monster. Still I would be cautious to whom I recommend it. The beauty of the movie is not in action scene but in the subtle messages. It is a drama for mature children and above. As the story unfold it becomes more and more intense and emotional.
Note on the author. The novel was written by Patrick Ness (an awarded author) but is based on an idea from Siobhan Dowd. Herself an author she was diagnosed with a terminal cancer (which inspire the concept of the book) and died before the novel was completed.
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