A young girl under an insane amount of pressure learns she has a family
curse that turns her into a giant red panda whenever she gets stressed out. FAMILY/FANTASY
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Turning Red (2022)Directed by Domee Shi
Written by Julia Cho and Domee Shi Starring Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho |
When I first saw the trailer for Turning Red, I thought the concept looked way more juvenile and Disney-influenced than anything Pixar had done thus far. I figured it would be one of their more forgettable outings. But it's actually a very poignant parable about growing up amidst generational pressure and an overbearing mother. Once again, Pixar brings relatable growing pains and wild fantasy into the same realm, delivering a film that's sure to rank among peoples' Pixar favorites.
Mei (Chiang) is a thirteen-year-old Chinese Canadian girl who is trying to live her best life. But that means being loyal to her best friends and trying to do right by her super overbearing mother (Oh), who expects greatness from her. The double life is tearing her apart, and one day, she wakes up as a giant red panda. Her mother tells her that this is a family curse the women of their family have to deal with and there is only one way to get rid of it. But Mei realizes the red panda gives her the strength to be her own person, and suddenly she doesn't want to give it up. This is also the first ever Disney movie I've ever seen that openly discusses a woman's period, among other formerly taboo subjects. So, props to Pixar for being progressive. Turning Red is definitely going to be controversial to some people, and amazing to others. I rank it somewhere in the middle of Pixar's work. It's got some great comedic moments, but also a solid amount of family drama that Pixar has become known for. Another great watch for the whole family. |