Why ‘Soul’ Makes Sense
I grew up with a childhood where I was no stranger to Pixar films, and I will be eternally grateful for that. The familiarity of enjoying Toy Story and A Bug’s Life are still nostalgic to me. When I sat down and watched Soul, I was immediately fascinated by how the simple concept of a story gripped me throughout. Yet, there is a timely element that made Soul resonate with me more today.
Since I was at a very young age, there was a certain excitement to look forward to watching Pixar’s new releases. But the older I became, the anticipation somewhat turned into something to look forward to after watching the films for the first time. For Soul, it was a solid, content feeling as I sat through the credits as the story concludes with a start of a mundane day in giving a second chance to live life as it is.
I have many compliments for this film, from its creative collaboration and intensive research of building characters as well as visualising worlds that were never, literally, visualised. Still, what fulfilled me from this film was not only proving that The Social Network soundtrack-vibe works for a Pixar animation film, as well as translating the metaphor of jazz into the practice of living—unpredictable, unplanned, improvised, yet vibrant and alive—but its underlying takeaway of appreciating the mundaneness that is life.
When Joe Gardner asked himself after performing his once-in-a-lifetime shot, What happens next now that I’ve lived the day I’ve been waiting for my whole life? I realise that the history of great animated storytelling has always championed in ‘winning the moment of your life’ or achieving that ‘happily ever after,’ yet never presented that the plainness of enjoying each of life’s sparks in its moment is what carried those wholesome experiences—until your time at The Great Beyond (or The Good Place) arrives.
Today, I am in my (rather) late twenties and found myself challenged in being able to make the most of the present. I try to practice gratitude and reflect day by day, but I still overthink a deadline two weeks prior—while actually working on it. Though it has been a struggle to constantly practice, I learnt that the struggle is vital to reflect on the process as every step shapes the liveliness within the mundanity.
I want to put this specifically to one example of why Soul makes sense, at least to me. At this point in my life, a friend of mine gave a kind reminder as I consulted with her on a personal project I’ve been wanting to pursue for years now. She holds this reminder as she asked, ‘Why are you pursuing this now? Why is it important that you create this work at this time?’
In my practice of writing poems, I’ve stacked drafts for a book collection for years. While there have been impatience and eagerness to immediately finish and publish, I realise I needed the years to nurture and understand how to appreciate the process for a project that is very personal to me.
At the same time, I needed the reassessment on how my practice of writing has developed and has changed significantly. I wanted to embrace every working process, every struggle, every line I revisited from four years back and cringed. I want to progress to a draft where the words settle, accompany meanings for others in finding stillness. I want to allow the events from the day-to-day mundanity contribute to the practice in my passion of writing poetry.
As CellSpex underlines this, ‘Soul is not about death, it’s about life.’ As much as you argue that Soul doesn’t seem to be a go-to family film for the entertainment of kids, I feel like this film will resonate and grow—it’ll bear its roots within you. This film shapes as a reminder of embracing life despite of what society expects and accepts from your accomplishments. I may have not have my book published (yet), but I am learning to appreciate every thing that intertwines in the journey, and what happens after. Life still happens after a moment’s ‘happily-ever-after’.
I recognise that the ‘winning moment’ shouldn’t be the achieved goal, but looking forward to how the process unfolds and overcoming its struggles shape how the accomplishment will contribute and integrate into the day to day of mundanity. Even though I still find the challenge in embracing the present, I am opening a path to let the spark that is life intertwine with the struggles within.
And let this be on the record that Soul is my favourite Pixar movie that I’ve experienced in my adulthood.
