The Red Turtle

Name: The Red Turtle
Genre: Fantasy, Animation
Released: January 20, 2017
Duration: 80 min
Rating: 86

2017

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 161 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 161 Ratings

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The Red Turtle

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: January 20, 2017 | PG

Summary: Through the story of a man shipwrecked on a tropical island inhabited by turtles, crabs and birds, The Red Turtle recounts the milestones in the life of a human being.

Director: Michael Dudok de Wit

Genre(s): Fantasy, Animation

Rating: PG

Runtime: 80 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Peter Debruge

May 21, 2016

Michael Dudok de Wit’s hypnotizing, entirely dialogue-free The Red Turtle is a fable so simple, so pure, it feels as if it has existed for hundreds of years, like a brilliant shard of sea glass rendered smooth and elegant through generations of retelling. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

Jan 19, 2017

This exquisite animated feature, directed by Michael Dudok de Wit, has no dialogue, only the sounds of water, wind and birds, the occasional strains of Laurent Perez del Mar’s graceful score; and images of a young castaway living out the stages of his life on a desert island after giant storm waves hurl him onto a beach. Read full review

100

Matthew Anderson

May 25, 2017

From its first moments, The Red Turtle is a captivating ultra-sensory experience; sounds are crisp and images are hand-drawn perfection. Read full review

The Film Stage Rory O'Connor

May 21, 2016

Despite there being no dialogue and very few characters, the film consistently celebrates the excitement of exploration and invention while also keeping the audience aware of the man’s growing frustrations. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Jan 18, 2017

The movie has the proportion of a fable but the scope of a mythical lifetime. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Jan 26, 2017

One of the charms of The Red Turtle is a chance to savor the joys of clean and simple animation suggestive of the old hand-drawn school, which is part of what makes the film, a quiet, humanistic fable, one of the best of its kind in memory. Read full review

Jordon Hoffman

Jan 20, 2017

The animated feature The Red Turtle is about as far as you can get from a typical cartoon movie musical. Except for a few tsunami crashes and howls, this lovely but tortoise-paced work from the celebrated Japanimation house Studio Ghibli is basically a silent film. Read full review

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User Reviews

Rebecca31

Jun 3, 2017

A man is shipwrecked on a deserted island. Upon trying to escape several times he encounters a red turtle and his life changes forever. From Studio Ghibli you expect nothing short of brilliance and this certainly does deliver. With virtually no dialogue an emotional story unfolds accompaniedA man is shipwrecked on a deserted island. Upon trying to escape several times he encounters a red turtle and his life changes forever. From Studio Ghibli you expect nothing short of brilliance and this certainly does deliver. With virtually no dialogue an emotional story unfolds accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack. The animation is wonderful, the visuals and attention to detail simply mesmerizing. Unique and stunning, I loved it. Highly recommended.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

trancekat

May 8, 2017

A moving and beautiful film that conveys emotion without uttering a single word. The story reflects life, human goals and endeavors, as well as how those facets of man humbled by nature. Set in a castaway-like island, we see the life of one man beyond survival or rescue, but rather aA moving and beautiful film that conveys emotion without uttering a single word. The story reflects life, human goals and endeavors, as well as how those facets of man humbled by nature. Set in a castaway-like island, we see the life of one man beyond survival or rescue, but rather a refection of the same life we all lead.

Certainly worth the time spent on this touching and thoughful film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

navid_g

Nov 30, 2016

This movie is stupendous. It shows you true love and how it affects people. It was symbolic, of course, (given the history of ghibli studio). The characters don't talk to each other, but they talk to you through their actions and gestures. It is, undoubtedly, one of this year's best.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

madmovieman

Nov 29, 2016

The first thing to note about this film is that there’s no dialogue. At all. Sometimes, that can make for a dull watch, but if everything is put together as well as it can be, then this genre of film can be one of the most therapeutic and poetic of all. The Red Turtle isn’t necessarily theThe first thing to note about this film is that there’s no dialogue. At all. Sometimes, that can make for a dull watch, but if everything is put together as well as it can be, then this genre of film can be one of the most therapeutic and poetic of all. The Red Turtle isn’t necessarily the most stunning film of all time, but it’s an impressive watch throughout, effectively forgoing dialogue yet retaining an engaging story, complemented by dazzling backdrops and a great score.

Before I get into what was really good about this film, I want to talk about the first twenty minutes. I think the best way to approach this film is only knowing it has no dialogue, because the way the story develops is actually very unpredictable. That being said, the opening act, where we see the castaway first stranded on the island and attempting to make an escape, isn’t quite so engrossing.

Although there are still some absolutely beautiful shots of the landscape, everything feels a lot more stagnant than it should do. The man’s eventual encounter with the red turtle doesn’t pack the punch the film is going for, whilst the experience of watching the dialogue-less film isn’t enhanced by the score, which really doesn’t pick up for a long time into this movie.

Unfortunately, the disappointing opening act meant I had a lower impression of the movie going into the latter stages, however it’s safe to say that everything really picks up as the film moves along. Again, there are some really surprising plot twists throughout the film, so I’ll try my best to avoid spoilers, but I can still talk about the way that director Michael Dudok de Wit’s incredible style plays such a role in the second and third acts.

As the story introduces a more personal and emotional note to the man’s isolation, everything becomes a lot more poetic. The first act was almost completely devoid of pure drama, but as the film unfolds, there are numerous heartbreaking and heartfelt moments alike that pull you into the story, largely because of the way the score and the visuals come into play.

Following the first act, the music becomes a lot louder, more powerful and far more emotional, but all for the better. Everything has a much greater sense of dramatic importance, and in tandem with some of de Wit’s truly astonishing panoramas of the beautiful night sky and sea, the film effectively takes on the form of a painting.

Although it does unfortunately drop off a little in the final act, and the final twist isn’t quite so impressive to see, the biggest triumph of The Red Turtle is its ability to create an engrossing and at times truly beautiful experience without the need for any dialogue or exposition. It’s not an all-time classic in my view, and doesn’t stand up to most solo Studio Ghibli productions, but it’s a different and wonderful watch nonetheless.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Apr 12, 2019

Really nice animated film with beautiful visuals and music, story not totally clear however.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JimmyFeckit

Feb 9, 2020

Style over substance. Starts promisingly enough but then fades into a pretentious analogy about man losing touch with nature. Puts me in mind of a restaurant that serves terrible food but in a great location with perfect ambience. People praise it in a circular way without ever examiningStyle over substance. Starts promisingly enough but then fades into a pretentious analogy about man losing touch with nature. Puts me in mind of a restaurant that serves terrible food but in a great location with perfect ambience. People praise it in a circular way without ever examining what they are buying.

Not what I expected from a Ghibli film at all. Avoid it unless you are looking for an excuse to use it as a conversation piece to make you seem smarter than you actually are.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Wiegots

Jan 6, 2018

Absolutely horrible. How is this even remotely associated with Ghibli Studios? Wordless, colorless, storyless. We have seen all of Ghibli Studios movies and are complete fans of all their work. This one just sucks!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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