The inventor

On September 14, the animated film The Inventor premiered at the American Legion Theater in Los Angeles. Based on the life of Leonardo da Vinci, this stop-motion animation movie features the voices of Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Gauthier Battoue and Matt Berry. 

Jim Capobianco - Oscar-nominated for his screenplay for Ratatouille - chose Pierre-Luc Granjon as a partner to bring this project to life. His fascination for the complex figure of Leonardo Da Vinci goes back a long way, as he explains: 

I lived with this character for probably 22 years, because I made a short film a few years ago. 
It’s special in a way, because I have my own take at him. (With this film) I’m trying to bring him down to a level that is more of a reel character than something that’s unapproachable. He is always treated as a wise sage or an humbling inventor, and I really wanted to tell him in an honest way. As a real person, that we can relate to.

By humanizing this key figure of the 15th century, Jim Capobianco opts for a stance that goes against the grain of today's hero. Brilliant but uncontrollable, voluble in his boundless creativity, curious to the extreme, Leonardo reveals himself to be painfully human, with all the contradictions and flaws that it implies. 

Obsessed with the meaning of life, immortality, and the human body and soul, he is constantly moving from one idea to another, from project to project, some of which ending up forgotten. A brilliant mind that might not have been able to express its full genius if it hadn’t been for the help of his invaluable patrons. The Medicis and French King François 1er gave Da Vinci the means, but above all the time and freedom, to devote to his research. 

In a world where everything must move ever faster, The Inventor reminds us of the value of time, all the while shedding light on resolutely modern values. Would such a character be able to advance humanity so profoundly today? Would he be granted the time? It's hard to say. Jim Capobianco comments:

The world could use another Leonardo Da Vinci. But we have many geniuses today. One message we are trying to send in the film is about what we can all do in our lives to connect to other people in a positive way or a negative way. By teaching people, and passing on our imagination and creativity, we inspire them. And I feel we have such power and people are so smart, they can use that for good things and change the world in that sense. 

The Inventor invites us to reflect on this universal message, all the while perpetuating the immortality of an unforgettable man, who managed to conquer the world, and who continues to fascinate us to this day, with one taunting grin…

The Inventor
Written and Directed by Jim Capobianco
Produced by Jim Capobianco, Ellen Byrne, Robert Rippberger, Vincent Mc Carthy, Ilan Urroz
Executive producer: Don Hahn, Nadia Khamlichi, Nessa McGill, Sierra Garcia, Ilan Urroz, Nicolas Flory, Phil Viardo, J.D. Zacharias, Kyle Stroud, Keanu Mayo, Ryan Clarkson, Eric Vonfeldt, Kat Alioshin, Rob McGillivray, Ben Stranahan, Jeremy Walton, David Lyons, Nathanael Karmitz, Fionnuala Jamison, Oliver Barbier
Starring  Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, Daisy Ridley, Matt Berry, Jim Capobianco, Max Baumgarten, Ben Stranahan, John Gilkey, Jane Osborn, Angelino Sandri, Daniel Swan 
Cinematography : Marijke Van Kets
Edited by Nicolas Flory
Music by Alex Mandel
Production companies : Curiosity Studio, Foliascope, Leo & King
Distributed by KMBO (France), Blue Fox Entertainment (United States)
Release dates : 12 June 2023 (Annecy), 15 September 2023 (United States), 31 January 2024 (France)
Running time : 92 minutes

Seen September 14, 2023 at Hollywood Post 42, The American Legion Theater (Los Angeles)

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