Some fortunate humans have secret insect friends that inspire their creativity. Nine-year-old Viga is an adventurous storyteller who hides her struggles with reading and writing because she is ashamed. Her classmate Sana is a model student, always focused and serious, with no time for fun. Viga's other secret is her new friendship with Taro, a cockroach who fuels her imagination. When Sana discovers and reveals Viga’s secrets, Viga must rise above the mockery to help Sana when her mother faces humiliation on live TV. Together, they must overcome their differences, team up, and learn the values of acceptance and compassion while saving Taro from an exterminator, capturing a Chinese emperor, and executing the perfect “Coup à la Cupcake” heist.
Typically in film, characters suffering from mental illness are used as plot devices or exaggerated for comedy. 'The House that Jack Built's representation exceeds in accuracy and realism of OCD.
“To be universal, you have to get specific”: while the film does not attempt to provoke discussions about queerness or race, those watching closely may find something resonant in Sorrentino’s love letter to the Naples of his youth.
In 1983, V first debuted as a mini-series. It chronicled the story of alien visitors who arrive on Earth in motherships; they look like us, they talk like us, and they say they are of peace
The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.
From being unfairly outed, to going after the life you want for yourself, these songs from 'Frozen' perfectly capture the journey out of the closet.
Steven Spielberg's West Side Story (2021) improves on the original's terrible representation, poorly written romance, and more. --> check out reviews & film summary
