My Life as a Zucchini

"SOMETIMES WE CRY BECAUSE WE'RE HAPPY."

2016 1h 6m FR

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 1,557

AnimationComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After his mother’s death, Zucchini is befriended by a kind police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home filled with other orphans his age. There, with the help of his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love as he searches for a new family of his own.

“SOMETIMES WE CRY BECAUSE WE'RE HAPPY.”

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Cast

Gaspard Schlatter
Courgette (voice)
Sixtine Murat
Camille (voice)
Paulin Jaccoud
Simon (voice)
Michel Vuillermoz
Raymond (voice)
Raul Ribera
Ahmed (voice)
Estelle Hennard
Alice (voice)
Elliot Sanchez
Jujube (voice)
Lou Wick
Béatrice (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Claude Barras
Writers: Fernando Lira Sarabia, Céline Sciamma, Germano Zullo
Languages: French
Countries: France, Switzerland

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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 66-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 73% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Switzerland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Claude Barras, shot by David Toutevoix. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Sophie Hunger. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gaspard Schlatter and Sixtine Murat and Paulin Jaccoud carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Claude Barras directs. David Toutevoix behind the camera. Sophie Hunger scores. Valentin Rotelli cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, Switzerland. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 66-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Earned back only 73% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 10 years ago.
4International production across 2 countries: France, Switzerland.
5Directed by Claude Barras, shot by David Toutevoix. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Sophie Hunger. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Valentin Rotelli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Gaspard Schlatter and Sixtine Murat and Paulin Jaccoud carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "SOMETIMES WE CRY BECAUSE WE'RE HAPPY.".
10IMDB entry: tt2321405 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: David Toutevoix
Original score: Sophie Hunger
Editing: Valentin Rotelli
Costume design: Christel Grandchamp
VFX supervisor: Fabrice Faivre
Sound: Denis Séchaud
Runtime: 66 min · 1h 6m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $8,000,000
Box office: $5,873,256
Return: 73% of budget
Original language: FR
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: My Life as a Zucchini (2016)

Awards

Lumière Award for Best Animated Film
Annecy Cristal for a Feature Film
European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Claude Barras

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-04-26
★ 7/10
Seeking a second chance for the normal life. Whenever I review a Stop-motion animated film, I always start with by saying it is a dying art form that needs a bigger lift from us. It gave a new life for filmmaking when there were no technology like computers hundred years ago for the creation of giant creatures to all the fantasy and magical world. I am glad that every year someone coming forward to show the world how beautiful these are. I think there's a quota for it and 2D animation for the Oscars. Otherwise, these formats would die sooner than we expected, so that recognition in the big stage. Every year at least one film from these two categories makes out. This year it was a double jackpot for Stop-motion animation. Including this, 'Kubo and the Two Strings' was the other one to shine in the world's biggest film awards ceremony. But winning the trophy is almost impossible in this 3D animated film world. Anyway, I'm happy for this, that I enjoyed watching it. It was a short film, that ran for just one hour. First, we have to understand filmmaking in this form is a most challenging one than any other. It is a manual work. I mean people get in there and frame by frame do all the work. So for this one hour film, they had done the great hard work and it paid off well by got nominated for the Oscars. It was also Switzerland's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film, but failed to make progress in that race. The screenplay was based on the book. A simple story with a strong message. This is the tale of a boy with full of dreams and after his alcoholic mother died, he is taken to the orphanage. That is the last place he wanted to be where he meets a mean boy and soon becomes his close friend. Being young kids, they tend to play some pranks with officials, visitors and themselves. That's one of the ways to cope with for where they have ended. So the remaining is to tell us would they get a second chance in their lives. ❝I don't know why I'm crying. Sometimes people cry because they're happy.❞ When some take up a project like this, they are not offered to make mistakes in choosing a weak screenplay. Because there are thousands of films in production around the world and in those, a handful of animated films, but probably he's only one up for a Stop-motion animated feature. Which means everyone with the knowledge of his commitment will be looking forward to it. So the filmmakers have opted to adapt a novel, which is always a best option in filmmaking. The next is the characters. Making them come alive, particularly initial stage, the creation of models. Yep, they have done that job as well so well. Gooding looking ones, especially among the kids for having similarity with their vision. The frame rate was good. Very smoother for viewing. So technically it was a flawless for the normal watch. An impressive storyline, which might serve as a tearjerker for a few. There's a little romance, but from the children's perspective of having a crush. Since the girl character was introduced, the narration takes a fresh look. The following event becomes even more adventurous and fun filled till the end. The voice-over was excellent. From the dialogues to the film scenes very impressive. It marks the directional debut for a short filmmaker. An appreciable work and I hope he makes more like them with new technics than migrating to computer animations. One of the advantages is it is a short and sweet film, but those who love such films might feel it is too short. Most importantly, there're not clichés like what we've seen films that takes place in the orphanages. The opening was shocking. If it was a real life, the boy would have ended in a different place. Still the emotional parts were less explored, yet very convincing for not leaning too much on that facet. The film is one of the best in its kind, but I agree it's not a masterpiece. Not if you have seen plenty of Stop-motion animations in your life. Yet it can't be neglected that easily and surely it is for everyone. I know there are folks who thinks this format of films are for little ones, but the truth is they are still in the pre 90s mindset. This is good, give it a try and you might love it. Anyway, for its rareness itself highly recommended, then you decided how do you liked it or not. 7/10

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