Soul

Pixar Animation Studios has reserved for us for this year not only a true immortal masterpiece but also one of its most moving productions celebrating life, jazz, knowledge sharing and what might await us at the end of life. Far from indulging in the easy way, Pixar has always given the same importance to the created story as to the animation. Like a goldsmith who would take care of his creation to make it irreproachable, Pixar proposes with Soul an animated film that will remain long after seeing it in our memory as it succeeds in creating a real emotional bond with spectators of all ages.

Joe Gardner is a music teacher in a college. His dream for a long time is to play jazz on stage. When an opportunity to impress other jazz musicians at an opening act at the Half Note Club presents itself to him, things don't go as planned. An unexpected accident causes Gardner's soul to be separated from his body and he begins to move towards the Great Beyond. Yet Gardner manages to escape to the Great Beyond, a world where souls develop personalities, quirks and traits before being sent to Earth. Gardner is then given the mission to work with souls in formation in the Great Beyond, such as 22, a soul who has an inaccurate view of the concept of life, in order to return to Earth before his body dies. Soul is a celebration of life and a fantastic adventure in which a simple human will find himself in an extraordinary adventure.

Music has always occupied an important place in each of Pixar's animated films because it helps to reinforce the emotional strength and above all allows a greater immersion in a magical universe that reflects a deep reflection on our current society. In this case, jazz is at the very center of the story, whether it is the transmission of passion from father to son during a flashback scene, in that school class where Joe Gardner teaches, or in those scenes taking place in the Great Beyond. Composed by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, the music here celebrates life, true emotion and artistic creation.

Soul easily stands out for its themes and treatment as one of Pixar's best animated films and for us as simply the best because it shows a deep emotional maturity and reminds us of the fragility of life and the fact that we must live passionately each day by giving the best of ourselves. Pixar is unrivalled in offering great animated films kneaded with unfailing love and constantly seeking to push the limits of animation. Soul is not only magnificent, it is above all a work of rare intelligence.

The version we discovered was the French one with the voices of Omar Sy, Camille Cottin and Ramzy Bedia and we must admit that the voices are perfectly selected. They reinforce the emotion that emanates from this film but also all the humor that circulates in it, whether it is through the presence of an irresistible cat, a captain of a boat in the Great Beyond whose alter-ego on our land is an eccentric man advertising in the street. Of course we can only encourage you to discover this film in its original version as the vocal presence of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey must bring an undeniable added value. The former is also a well-known singer and the latter also participated in the scenario of this immortal masterpiece that is Soul.

While the film was scheduled for release in June, the global pandemic has decided otherwise. While most movie theaters are currently closed in the United States and totally closed in France, Soul will finally be released worldwide on December 25th on Disney +. We would have so much preferred to discover it in a movie theater on a big screen as it imposes itself to our eyes as one of the best of all genres this year but we can only thank The Walt Disney Company for offering us for Christmas a magical and unforgettable film that we will see with an intact pleasure on many occasions.

Soul
Directed by Pete Docter, Kemp Powers
Produced by Dana Murray
Written by Pete Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers, Tina Fey
With the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs and in French version of Omar Sy, Camille Cottin and Ramzy Bedia.
Music by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Production: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios
Distribution: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date: December 25, 2020 (Disney +)

Seen on December 7, 2020 (press access Disney +)

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