Nocturna (2007)

Directors:

Adrià García
Víctor Maldonado

Writers:

Adrià García (writer)
Víctor Maldonado (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Animation | Fantasy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Fear | Creature | Night Time | Cat | Fear Of The Dark

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Imanol Arias	...	Pastor de gatos (voice)
Natalia Rodríguez	...	Estrella Polar (voice)
Carlos Sobera	...	Sr. Moka (voice)

Also Known As:

Nocturna, la nuit magique (France)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:G | Argentina:Atp | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:All

Company:

Filmax Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#40.4)" (2008)

Great magical film that improves with each viewing and needs to be seen by anyone looking for a good film not just a good animated one

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Tim is a little boy who is afraid of the dark, but loves the stars. Every night he drags his bed to the window so he can be watched over by his star. One night unable to sleep he climbs to the roof of the orphanage and looks out over the city and notices that the stars, including his star, are going out. In his frenzy to do something he falls off the roof, but is rescued by the Cat Shepherd. The Cat Shepherd is in charge of the cats that watch over all of the children and help put them to sleep at night. When Tim refuses to go to sleep The Cat Shepherd agrees to help Tim get to see the head of Nocturna the world of the night, who might be able to help him solve the problem of the missing stars. This in turn becomes a journey across the night world as Tim tries to find the source of the darkness.

I've seen Nocturna twice in two days and while I really liked it after the first viewing I fell even more under its spell upon the second. This is quite simply a magical movie that improves with each viewing (I'm planning yet another viewing in the next day or so). Trust me this is a great film. If you've ever wondered why your hair is messed up in the morning, or who makes the noises at night, or who steal your socks this movie is for you. As Tim goes through the night world he discovers the answers to these and other questions (which are referenced through out the movie and seeing how they are is what makes the film so much fun on multiple viewings) Its magic.

Watching the film I was reminded of other films, Monsters Inc, Spirited Away, Moongirl, and a few others, but seconds after I thought that the film was like one thing I almost instantly realized that I was wrong, it maybe like these films for a moment, but in the end they are nothing like them, this is a film that creates its own unique world (which is clearly evident in its design, music and witty dialog). This is a film that ultimately is a unique masterpiece.(If nothing else the familiarity that flashes up makes the film more special in that it makes it easier to believe that what we see happening in the film is really what happens in our world after we fall asleep).

This film needs to be seen, by anyone who wants to see a good movie- not just an animated film or a kids film- just a good film. It's special. Search this one out.

And why doesn't this film appear to have a US distributor? I had to see this as an imported region 2 DVD(Which has a super English voice cast.) This is an animated film that deserves to be seen as big as possible. I regret not seeing it at the New York Children's Film Festival when I had the chance because the thought of seeing Tim moving through the city on the big screen is just too amazing to contemplate (It looks great on a big screen TV but on a big movie screen its probably even better).