“Sing. Sing. Sing!”
Academy Award Nominated Director Mamoru Hosoda is back with Belle – a modern take on the classic Beauty and the Beast story set between the real world and the virtual world of “U”. After receiving a 14-minute standing ovation at Cannes, the film has finally had its UK Premiere.
Suzu, a young schoolgirl, who struggles with her confidence after losing her mother at an early age, joins an app called “U” – an internet-based world where the user has their biometrics imprinted into an avatar so that they can do anything that they desire. Suzu wants to sing, after being inspired by her late mother but suffers from stage fright in the real world. Under the alias “Belle”, she becomes an overnight sensation and both her real and virtual worlds change forever, especially when she meets the Beast known as “The Dragon”.
What truly stands out in this magnificent piece of art is Hosoda-san’s attention to detail – the choice to have the real world hand-drawn and the virtual world constructed with computer-generated animation helps bring each setting to life in its own unique way. Even though the virtual world looks and feels fantastical, it also has so much personality that allows the story to progress fluidly and act as an extension of the human characters.
Even though the narrative borrows beats from the aforementioned Jean Cocteau/Disney iterations, it incorporates so many other elements that still allows it to stand on its own as a unique story of a girl discovering her voice, protecting others and truly finding her place in the world.
The score, including each musical number, is utterly captivating and gorgeous to listen to and watch transpire on screen. The climax of the film especially will make sure there is not a dry eye in the house.
Whereas his previous film Mirai told a story from the perspective of a child that we could relate to in our own past, Belle cements itself as an important story for our future as technology and our reliance on it evolves – it really brings out the good in the internet and how it can help us grow.
Belle is hands-down Hosoda-san’s best film to date and absolutely deserves all of the praise it has received so far. A stunning and spellbinding reimagining of Beauty and the Beast for a modern age, with a powerful and positive message for audiences of all ages that we can all reach our potential. Full of heart, soul, laughs and tears. Simply magnificent.
Belle is released in UK cinemas on February 4th.
