Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A young boy comes of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the boy as he discovers his family's most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?
Pixar's La Luna is a charming, wordless short that excels in its visual imagination and singular premise — a family that sweeps stars off the moon. The cinematography is breathtaking, with lush, painterly lighting and a gorgeous sense of scale that makes the moon feel both vast and intimate. Its novelty is high: the concept is wholly original, the tone is tender and whimsical without being cloying, and the wordless storytelling gives it a timeless, fable-like quality that feels unmistakably Pixar at its most inspired. The plot, while simple by necessity (it's a short), serves its purpose elegantly as a coming-of-age metaphor about finding one's own path between tradition and innovation. Acting is limited given the wordless format — physical comedy and pantomime carry the characters, which is endearing but not deeply expressive. The ending, while sweet and satisfying, is fairly predictable once the setup is established.