Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: JULIAN [Toronto International Film Festival - Toronto, Ontario]
Animation is about creating new worlds but in doing so sometimes representation is over emphasized or done in a less conventional perspective because a story progression needs to be fulfilled. "Julian" [Centrepiece], an animation film produced by Zoe Saldana and directed by Louisa Bagnall ("Wolfwalkers") follows the character of Julian going to spend some time with his grandmother in Brooklyn. He loves her colorful space and especially her jewelry. But Julian isn't interested in baseball. He is interested in the ocean, its creatures and especially mermaids. He wants to make beautiful clothes and plan costumes with the local girls. His grandmother and, by extension, her friends think it is harmless at first but his grandmother is not quite sure how to react. Julian is a bit clumsy and they think he just might need to find his way. But Julian’s dad tells her at the get-go that Julian is different. When Julian's hair is cut or he is made to eat food from the Dominican Republic he doesn’t know, you see his disdain and yet he truly just wants to make people happy.
That said when he finally gets his mermaid tail on and is swimming through the pool, it is like he has found his calling. He does get bullied but his grandmother and his girl compadres know how gifted and kindhearted he is. At this point Julian does take on an imaginary friend which propels the animation into a bit of magical realism which creates the climax of the final act of the film. Julian, against his better judgment must take his friend to the sea, which is not too far from Brooklyn. He disappears and the way it is shown can simply be a child’s perspective before it is changed back to realism. The film of course is a median on acceptance of a love that might not be your own but is specifically part of this person’s make up. Julian likes sparkly things. He loves the flow of his mermaid’s tail. And he loves his grandma. He doesn’t know how the rat race of the world works yet. He just knows how he feels. It is great to see that kind of reorientation in animation especially on a more independent level when it’s might be harder to do at a completely more mainstream level. But "Julian" is assured and focused in its likes and his voice. 84%/B
By Tim Wassberg
