Movie with Abe: Boy and the World (Capsule Review)

Boy and the World
Directed by Ale Abreu
Released December 11, 2015

Traditionally, films tell stories using sounds and images. That wasn’t always the case, of course, and there’s a reason that “The Artist” went over so well a few years ago when it brought back the silent film. A lack of dialogue almost never means the absence of sound, and very often a musical score or ambient noise can speak even louder than words. Telling a dialogue-free story with animation makes it even more enticing, and that is how one boy’s search to find his father is chronicled in this colorful and creative new film. This contender for this year’s Oscar for Best Animated Feature features a Brazilian flavor and a monumental trip through to new places and new experiences through the eyes of an eager child. The eighty-minute runtime feels long without the use of any conversation or language present, but there is definitely much to be said for its use of energetic and evocative animated images to showcase one perspective of the world.

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