BOOK OF LIFE
DIRECTOR: Jorge R Gutierrez
VOICE CAST: Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Christina Applegate, Kate del Castillo, Hector Elizondo, Ron perlman, Zoë Saldana
CLASSIFICATION: 7-9 PG V
RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes
RATING: ***
BRIGHT, colourful and fast-moving, this animated film mines myths around the Mexican Day of the Dead to create a children’s story about death.
Framed as a story told to a group of children visiting a museum, it touches on the idea that the world is made up of stories, because this is how we make sense of what we experience. It also touches on themes of responsibility and familial respect versus exploring your own individuality. Plus, it makes of death a journey, not an ending, in a simple and direct way that children can understand.
The story the children, and therefore the audience, are told is the classic one about two boys and a girl growing up best of friends, only for the grown-up boys to compete for the affection of the girl. What ups the stakes is that the “fight” between the two boys is a result of a bet between La Muerte (Del Castillo), the ruler of the land of the remembered, and Xibalba (Perlman), the ruler of the land of the forgotten.
La Muerte supports bull-fighter Manolo (Luna) who would rather be a mariachi than a matador, while Xibalba roots for Joaquin (Tatum) who grows up to be the charismatic hero of the town thanks to a magical amulet.
Manolo goes on an adventure in the underworld to save the town of San Angel and his friends and family in the underworld. Plus, it is a fight for the hand of the girl, while he is at it. Maria (Saldana), though, is not a damsel in distress, but an independent spirit perfectly capable of saving herself.
The animation is vibrant and detailed, with some of the stylised characters being depicted as wooden marionettes while others are metal, and the ones in the land of the dead gain fantastical etchings and tattoos, drawing on the Santa Muerte tradition and Latin folk artwork.
There is also a lot of detail about Mexican history and culture and the music is sweet without taking over (Manolo and his mariachi friends burst into song at the drop of a hat with fun lyrics that blend into the story).
On the downside, the storytelling is curiously flat, going from classic romance to hero adventure quest without skipping a beat. As long as it is delving into Mexican folklore it is engaging, but every time it ticks the checklist of “this is what the rom-com hero is supposed to do” or “when on a quest, here’s what he does” it slows down.
It is visually engaging and ghoulishly funny, but the individual characters don’t get much of a story arc or character growth because there is just so much happening in the background.
If you liked Corpse Bride or Nightmare Before Christmas, you will like this.
Origins of The Day of the Dead
Dia de Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and acknowledged around the world by other cultures. It focuses on gathering family and friends to pray for and remember those who have died, and to support their spiritual journey.
Originally celebrated at the beginning of summer, the Spanish colonisation of Mexico in the 16th century moved it October 31, November 1 and 2 to coincide with the Roman Catholic festivals of Allhallowtide: All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas and All Souls Day.
By the late 20th century this practice had morphed into honouring dead children and infants on November 1 – Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) – and dead adults on November 2 – Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead).
A common symbol of the day is a skull and sugared skulls, special food and altar decorations are made and sold.
In Mexican folklore, Santa Muerte (Spanish for Saint Death) is the personification of death and in Book of Life, La Muerte is the ruler of the land of the remembered (people who have died but are still remembered by their families). Her estranged husband Xibalba (translates to place of fear in Mayan mythology) is the ruler of the land of the forgotten.