The Red Turtle reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews The Red Turtle. A man, shipwrecked on a deserted island, has a life-changing encounter with a red turtle.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film - below. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
www.bbc.co.uk/5...
Fridays at 2pm on BBC 5 live.

[@ccshell]

I rarely leave comments on films and it takes an awful lot to move me in modern cinema but after watching this, I just had to share. It is simply the best film I think I have ever seen. Such a moving piece, a true work of art in substance, style and presentation. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. The portrayal of man through loneliness, love, bravery, and the final agony of death is wonderfully formed using the turtle as a perfect metaphor. I don't think I have cried as much before, watching an animation. This must be on everyone's movie bucket list to see; an awesome work.

[@precioustraveler]

@Carl Sheldon. I whole heartedly agree ❤ I own the film and on a whim rewatched it’s tonight (November 2022), knowing that I would be gloriously wrecked by the end 😭

[@TheCrazedLorry98]

I very rarely cry when watching movies, jump scares also rarely make me jump but I couldn't help but cry at the end of this movie. Its not out of despair but beauty, its really quite overwhelming and the music is truly stunning.

[@gaggle64]

Just watched this film, cried like I haven't in years. It's a genuine masterpiece.

[@philipmcritchie7309]

One of the best films ever made. Period.

[@andyg9835]

'The Red Turtle' is a beautiful animation of a Robinson Crusoe-type story with a fantasy twist. In a way, the feel of the movie (I guess mainly because of the lack of dialogue in a survival scenario) reminded me of 'All is Lost'. I was absorbed by it throughout and even shed a tear at the end. 4/5

[@venusalfante6285]

If I watched it at a younger age, probably won't be as moved. But now middle aged with children, yes I was surprisingly in tears too!

[@lovelyladycarter3687]

Isidro Cardwell right😳 I'm 30 now😌 and I'm so moved😱

[@taliaprice1909]

With a review like that, I have to see. Wow Mark!!!

[@Ronnien]

when Kermode says its good, its REALLY GOOD!

[@dooovde]

Meh, not so much

[@aldunamesaretaken]

When I seen this in the cinema I pretty much experienced all of what Mark describes, its a fantastic piece.

[@janmerckx]

Saw it last year. Breathtakingly beautiful.

[@MrJCMG]

I have just watched this film with my mum. This film is simply beautiful.

[@Gandenkris]

Wow the moonlight monochrome and silent cinema connection is stirring -- loved this movie, and absolutely loved your review!

[@PilsnerGrip]

I'm glad Mark gave it the review it deserves, it should be a well known classic, it's amazing and my heart breaks, knowing how unknown it is.

[@BongEyedBastard]

He's not wrong. Truly beautiful film.

[@ryanbelmontryan]

How could this film not have won an Oscar??

[@ianjarvis9367]

I sat and watched the red turtle the film as Mark says makes you feel all the emotions of being a human being and how I cried at the end my dad died 3 years ago and and made me feel closer too him

[@ricecum4563]

I was so emotionally invested with these three unnamed characters. I have never weeped, sobbed and screamed so much in my god damn life. Best film ever!

[@molesticles]

I thought it was fantastic. Made me cry too. Can't believe it's only been released in cinemas now.

[@neurohydraulics8713]

This is how art inspires art, the best review i have seen Mark "perform" like a really good jazz improv it just keeps on building and building and then a true intellectual orgasm! Superb!

[@charlesswallow2137]

I just watched it, thought it was great. Almost on the same emotional level although a different type of emotion as 'When Marnie was there'

[@sonikakamble9]

The crabs in this movie are so cute haha

[@susanbeacham6754]

One of the most beautiful animations ever produced

[@iainjames03]

Mark Kermode reviews The Red Turtle. A man, sitting in a Radio 5 Live sound booth, has a life-changing encounter with an animated movie.

[@zacharypharr1373]

One of my two favorite movies of all time. Can't decide between it and Lawrence of Arabia, which just goes to show its massive emotional scale, and I still give it that rating even after over a year since having watched it AND only having watched it once. Going to rewatch it this summer, hopefully its as good or better.

[@andrewjamieson7178]

Managed to catch it at the Filmhouse here in Edinburgh. It was a packed screening which I didn't expect! Thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is at once very "Ghibli-esque" and also very much a departure for them (first non-Japanese director etc). Was interested to see that this seems to have been an Isao Takahata production rather than Miyazaki, and it has the hallmarks of his films (Grave of the Fireflies, Tale of Princess Kaguya). Hope this is the start of yet more interesting and daring Ghibli projects. Really intrigued to see what Dudok de Wit does next.

[@JuanCarlosPrada]

Great review, Mark. Thank you. I can't wait to see this movie!

[@theobserver3753]

i remember Life of Pi in this one. But this was way better.

[@r.s.9861]

Timeless Masterpiece!

[@HuggyBoBo]

Really looking forward to this one, it's on at Cineworld in London (Fulham Road). It's nice to see Mark enthusiastic about a film as there seems to have been a lot of mediocrity recently.

[@leespiderpod]

It’s a beautiful piece of work

[@JoshSearlVideos]

I'm surprised Mark loved it this much. I saw The Red Turtle a while ago and whilst I thought it was very good, I definitely didn't feel so emotionally connected. Might have to give it another go.

[@winleerasanthanah4716]

I thought the same too since I wasn't as much emotionally connected compared to the director's previous works like "Father and Daughter." I might give it another try as well.

[@sphealwithitxd6720]

Such a beautiful movie 🥺

[@retcon1991]

I enjoyed it but really wanted to love it.

[@carljthatsme94]

Incredible movie. The fact Zootopia won the Oscar over it is unbelievable but then again Joe Hisaishi has never been nominated for his Ghibli music

[@hyperguranity]

I think the composer of Red Turtle is Laurent Perez Del Mar

[@PilsnerGrip]

I come to this review from time to time, hoping more people watched this film. I genuinely think this film should be shown to aliens that haven't decided wheter or not this lonely rock of a planet deserves to be saved.

[@shrinewitch]

Is it really pronounced jibbly? If Kermode says so I'll believe it.

[@tommyhanley]

Yes. In Japanese it's written ジブリ and it's pronounced "ji".

[@Megrez-Alberich]

It should be pronounced with a hard [g] seeing as it is an Italian word, but Hayao Miyazaki didn't know this and therefore made a mistake when he phonetically transcribed Ghibli into Japanese.

[@PauLtus_B]

I've seen this such a long time ago. Have to say that I prefer the first half over the second half but I'd recommend it nonetheless.

[@CrazyChunkles]

Just finished watching this one...hmm. Whilst I agree that it is a visual treat and does have some very heartwarming, compelling and interesting things to say about life, I was left a little bit flat by the end. Have to revisit it sometime

[@lakmal1st]

My wife thinks she is the red turtle and I am the man on the island.. she cries for hours...

[@richardmurphy9006]

a must see then

[@benprideaux8281]

The review alone made me sob

[@ElDaumo]

One of the greats

[@Thecrazymerio]

I'm another one of those people who this film didn't connect with it all so these reviews surprise me. I definitely walked out thinking it was art, but I wasn't invested in it. There were scenes I really enjoyed like his son climbing up the timeless wave or the entire typhoon sequence, but most of it just felt bland if I'm being honest. I'll rewatch it sometime and see though.

[@jonainsworth1020]

I saw this last night... not too shabby but didn't quite reach the heights of Ghibli Studios best.

[@dirtyturps]

I was expecting a lot more guy-on-turtle action to be fair.

[@DMX-PAT]

I just watched this movie and it was very impressive, that being said the ending fell short in my opinion. Instead of the red haired women returning to the ocean as a turtle I think her son who left to go where? Wit ha satchel? Should have become a turtle like his mother and done so via recovering the shell his mother pushed back out to sea at the beginning of the movie. Then after the main male character dies she should have built a raft and tried to leave while being confronted by her son as a turtle. but instead of her giving up and him destroying the raft like she did, she would ride on his back into the sunset or something to that effect...

[@Paperbagman555]

I saw this last year. It's good and very minimalist but I think Mark's overselling it. It's good, but I found it boring at times. That being said, my friend beside me was very emotionally invested. Check it out anyway, it's nice and succinct.

[@foxybingo1112]

Wow. I need to watch it.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

So, I take it that Mark liked it? LOL. ;-)

[@NatHarry]

This film looked beautiful but the story was a little regressive for me……Man was a tosser until nature makes a huge sacrifice to GIVE him a woman to spawn his offspring and it takes all that for him to realise that he shouldn’t be such a tosser anymore……

[@natanaelrodriguez3953]

First

[@Esplodiamoinallegria]

First come first fisted