Review of the Book of Life (The Book of Life)

Review of the Book of Life (The Book of Life)

Mexicanidad is a word that could well define The Book of Life, a vivid homage to their original traditions that still is able to be understood by everyone. It is a visual feast.

The Book of Life is a story as a legend of two young boys, Manolo and Joaquin, who live in a traditional Mexican pueblicito and compete for the love of Mary. Behind this commitment are also two spirits, Death and Xibalba, taking part for every young, tilting balance by any of them to see who will win the sweet Mary.

From that very moment, a whole whirlwind adventure that takes the viewer into the world of the living and the dead with fantastic color and definition. Asombra both detail and authenticity, the film offers unique universes.

The celebration of the Day of the Dead is a background that not only serves to show this Mexican tradition, but it can serve to interpret the little death from another perspective. The ties of family and friendship and unfailing love, also appear as moral, but the message highlight is the rarely seen bullfighting, especially because in some regions of Mexico have bullfighting as intangible cultural heritage since 2011, controversial decision which gives the character of art practice. In this October political groups seeking the issuance of a law on animal abuse in which completely prohibit, among other things, bullfighting, which is still deeply rooted in various regions of the country. The film seems to be supporting this initiative.

The Book of Life is an entertaining animated film, suitable for children from age seven. A rather elaborate film with a simple and easy to digest content.

It will be interesting to some that the soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla has no original songs, but they have nice versions of popular songs like "Cielito Lindo," "Just a Friend", "Creep" or "Can not Feel Falling in Love with you, "interpreted by some Placido Domingo and Diego Luna, who also lends his voice to Manolo, one of the protagonists of this story. The other voices are Zoe Saldana (Mary) and Channing Tatum (Joaquin).

Another aspect in favor of the film, in addition to authenticity, is that while there is a stamp of the producer, not passing over the creativity of the author.