The Red Turtle

2016 1h 21m FR

👍

7.4

SOLID

🔥

93%

CERTIFIED FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

7.5

IMDB

★7.4TMDB · 1,414🍅93%Rotten Tomatoes●86Metacritic★7.5IMDB · 41,710

AnimationDramaFantasyFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The dialogue-less film follows the major life stages of a castaway on a deserted tropical island populated by turtles, crabs and birds.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Tom Hudson
The Son as a Young Adult (voice)
Baptiste Goy
The Son as a Child (voice)
Axel Devillers
The Son as a Baby (voice)
Barbara Beretta
The Mother (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Dudok de Wit
Writers: Michael Dudok de Wit, Michael Dudok de Wit, Michael Dudok de Wit
Languages: No Language
Countries: Belgium, France, Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Japan.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Laurent Perez del Mar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Céline Kélépikis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Tom Hudson and Baptiste Goy and Axel Devillers carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt3666024 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Dudok de Wit directs. Laurent Perez del Mar scores. Céline Kélépikis cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Belgium, France, Japan. Dialogue in No Language.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 10 years ago.
3International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Japan.
4Original score by Laurent Perez del Mar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Céline Kélépikis shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Tom Hudson and Baptiste Goy and Axel Devillers carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt3666024 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 10 themes, including "coming of age", "survival", "loneliness", "crab".

The technical file

Original score: Laurent Perez del Mar
Editing: Céline Kélépikis
Sound: Alexandre Fleurant
Runtime: 81 min · 1h 21m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $921,974
Original language: FR
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: The Red Turtle (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 86/100
IMDB rating: 7.5/10 · 41,710 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 13 wins & 34 nominations total

Also by

Michael Dudok de Wit

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2016-12-24
★ 8/10
Man always needs a purpose. Since the Hollywood upgraded to the 3D animation, the rest of the world took over and given some incredible films in the last one and half decades. The Japanese animes are undoubtedly the best, but the European animation, particularly the 2D animation started to boom in the recent times with special mention goes to Tomm Moore. So basically I might miss some Hollywood animations, right now, but I'm very watchful over this kind of films. That's how I watched it, but anyway I would have seen it. This is the director's first feature animation film, but he was known for his awesome short animations which one of them won him an Oscar. It was jointly produced by three countries, including Japan's Studio Ghibli. It's their first non-Japanese production and a great beginning and timing to expand the production in other continents. Especially after their legend, Hayao Miyazaki retired from the filmmaking. The film was short like the 80 minute stretch without a single word spoken in its entire narration. There's no even sign language used, everything's actions and reactions. So you would find empty in the film's cast section which is kind of weird. I mean there are characters in the film, but all were imaginations without names and what year it takes place, where with so many questions like that. Basically to say, a film without the cast, but the crew members managed to give the best to the viewers to get it without any struggle. One thing is for sure, that the film is very enjoyable. It is a fantasy film, so whatever you see, you have to accept it. Because that's how things happen in a theme like this, all fictional. Though, the first thing you have to keep in your mind is not the entire film was an hallucination event. There are some dreamy events and that's fine since the film character is coping with loneliness. A man who had lost at sea, wakes up in a small island. It's a life supporting land mass with fresh water and fruits, but he also has to put some effort for fishing. His notion is to leave the island as soon as possible to go back to where he had come from, the civilised world. In his every attempt to sail with a raft he had made using bamboos, fails to cross after a certain stretch of the island coast. He later comes to know what stopped him and with an anger reaction he commits a mistake. So now he has to come out of the guilt and to do that he chooses what seems the right. It was like a simple story without any meaning about everything that's shown in it. So in my entire watch I thought the same and said it was an okay film with great animation. But the ending changed my stance. That twist, I don't think everybody would understand. But one thing I want to make sure if you yet to see it, that it was about the purpose. The man always looks for a reason to do things and even to live or die. That's where the red turtle comes in. Although my biggest question is, is this film a follow-up or in any way connected to the director's previous short animation 'Father and Daughter'? Because it seems the man who got lost in the sea is from that short film. But it never revealed the reason why he was stopped by whomever from return home. Also, both the conclusions syncs. It's just a my theory, so only the director can explain that. I'm very sure this film is in the Oscars race. If it fails to make, then its not my prediction was wrong, but the Academy Awards people got it all wrong. I'm also sure it won't win as 3D animation dominated world, particularly 'Zootopia' 'Finding Dory' and 'Moana' are taking the first three frontrunner spots. Except the technical differences, only the grown ups can say this one has a better and meaningful story. It is very similar to 'Ponyo', but a grown-up's version. Anyway, it is a must see film, especially the adults and in particular those who always think animation is for children. If they see it, they might change their mind. Highly recommended! 8/10
Norsk2017-08-10
The Red Turtle is a dialogue free film. That may turn a lot of people off. However, it fit the mood of the movie perfectly. It's a fantasy film that is filled with pure undefiled love. You will find yourself wanting your own family after this one. The ending is left open to interpretation but only makes the plot seem that much more interesting when you try to unravel who/what is the Red Turtle. A definite watch for those looking for more than the typical Hollywood blockbuster.
CinemaSerf2023-05-18
★ 7/10
A young man finds himself shipwrecked on a tropical island with only the coconuts and friendly, mischievous, fauna for company. He's pretty ill-equipped for his new lifestyle and is gradually starving! What to do? Well he has a go at building a raft, but each time he sets off it ends up as little more than kindling. After one such incident, he concludes that his antagonist is a beautiful sea turtle that he has observed nearby. When it comes onto land one day, he flips it over and leaves it to perish in the hot sun. Magic has an hand to play now, though, as the creatures morphs into a young woman with whom he gradually starts to bond and... The animation and soundtrack on this dialogue-free feature are gorgeous. The story itself has a brevity and engagingly fantastic nature to it. What makes something paradise? What keeps something paradise? It felt a little long at ninety minutes and don't be expecting any great conclusions at the end, but it still flew by and I really liked it's simplicity.