If you have heard about ‘a fish out of water’, then you will love Pixar’s new animated film Luca which gives an altogether different meaning to the idiom. In this ‘coming of age’ action-comedy film, a fish seriously comes out of the water to enjoy life to the fullest.

The film revolves around Luca, a sea monster, who wants a change in his boring routine life. Told by his parents that the human world is a dangerous place, the 12-year-old experiences something altogether different. He visits the nearest town, only to witness the stunning life above water. He turns to human form when not in the water, but then he enters a competition where swimming was part of the deal. Since water could turn Luca back into a sea monster, how does he manage to keep his secret is what makes this film interesting!

Set in Italy of the late 1950s, it revolves around a lot of things. It shows that parents must trust their kids as well as love them, for they might display hidden talent. Also, the fact that venturing into the unknown can have its own benefits, as shown in the movie where Luca and his friend went where ‘no fish had gone before’, and managed to succeed. The twists and turns keep the viewers glued to their seats, and is a must-watch for kids and parents alike.

Directed by Enrico Casarosa, the 95-minute animated film takes one to their own childhood, where it was easy to make new friends, ignore parents’ advice, and always plan for a runaway when things went the other way. Casarosa, who had worked as a story artist on Pixar’s Ratatouille and Coco, was quite aware of what the viewers wanted and delivered a story of friendship, strong bonding and eventual sacrifice. Luca, the amphibious protagonist, is a reflection of our childhood where we all have dreams, yet emotional attachment wins the day. The film may leave the parents teary-eyed, but the kids would surely love it because of its rebellious nature.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 11th, 2021