SLC-S25/W1- Movie Snapshots| Around the world (SOUL)

The movie is about a middle school music teacher named Joe Gardner who dreams of being a jazz musician. He finally gets his big gig, the chance to play with a famous band, but then, bam! he falls down a manhole (and dies), finds himself at the getaway to Great Beyond (after life) but ends up in the Great Before, a place where souls get their personalities before they go to Earth because he feels he just got his wish to achieve his dream.

	the manhole Joe fell into
Joe found the Great beyond
	Other souls entering the Great Beyond
Joe struggling to escape the Great Beyond

Since, Joe is not ready to die just yet, he tries to escape back to earth, hence he ends up as a mentor to 22, a soul who doesn't want to go to Earth. 22 has been around the Great before for ages and hasn't found her "spark", i.e., what makes her want to live. And now, Joe needs to help 22 find her spark so he can get back to his body.

	Joe finds himself at Great before
Joe learnt about the passage to Earth
	Joe being assigned 22 to mentor
Joe and 22 walking through memories

Hence, Joe and 22 went on adventures together, visiting Earth and learning about life, which also made Joe see the beauty in everyday things, like a slice of pizza or a good conversation. Just then, 22 experiences what it's like to live and starts to understand why people want to be alive.

In the course of these adventures were some funny moments, like when Joe and 22 end up in the wrong bodies and Joe ended up being stuck in a cat's body while 22 was in Joe's body. So Joe being in a cat body could only direct 22 in his body how to go about life.

	The cat body which Joe's soul entered
Joe's body which 22 entered
	22 having a taste of pizza for the first time
22 having wonderful moments of earth

In the end, Joe and 22 both learn a lot about life, which made Joe to also realize that life is more than just chasing dreams, and 22 also finally finds her spark, her reason to be born and wanting to live on Earth but Joe was desperate to get back to his body leading to an uproar among the two friends.

	Joe finally got his body back and enjoyed that one gig with Dorothea Williams
Joe finally realized what life is about
	Joe and 22 heated battle

Overall, it is a touching story about appreciating life, finding joy in the little things, and what it means to have a soul. And I must say, it is a really beautiful movie, with amazing animation and music to help us think about what's important in life and how to live it to the fullest.

Accolades

Soul is indeed a wonderful movie as it won 2 Oscars in Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 93rd Academy Awards. Its other accolades include winning seven Annie Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, one Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Golden Globe Awards and it also won the National Board of Review's Best Animated Film award for the year 2020 while also being named as one of the ten-best films in 2020 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.

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Share the characters

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Characters	Their roles
Joe Gardner	He's the main dude, a middle school music teacher who dreams of being a jazz pianist. He finally gets his big shot, but then, well, you know the story. He's the one who has the big journey of self-discovery.
22	This is a soul who's been in the Great Before for ages and hasn't found her "spark," the thing that makes her want to live on Earth. She's cynical and doesn't see the point of life, which is the opposite of Joe's perspective.
Dorothea Williams	She's a tough but talented jazz musician and the leader of the band Joe dreams of playing with. She's Joe's idol and gives him the opportunity of a lifetime.
Terry	This is the accountant of the Great Beyond, and she's always counting the souls that are ready to go to Earth. She's a bit of a stickler for the rules and keeps popping up when Joe tries to escape back to Earth.
Moonwind	A free-spirited sign spinner who helps lost souls. He is a spiritual guru of sorts, and he assists Joe in his journey.
Libba Gardner	Joe's supportive and practical mother. She wants what's best for her son and has a grounded view of life.

Joe Gardner	22	Dorothea Williams
Terry	Moonwind	Libba Gardner

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Describe the plot and setting of the movie.

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What can we say is a plot and a setting in a movie? Well,

A plot is basically the story itself, i.e., it is what happens in the movie, the sequence of events such as the main problem or challenge the characters face, what the characters want to achieve, the things that happen to move the story forward and how the conflict is resolved. On the other hand.

The Setting of a movie is basically where and when the story takes place, i.e., the environment that surrounds the characters such as where the story happens, when the story happens, and the mood or feeling of the Story. Therefore the setting basically helps to create the atmosphere.

With all said and then, now that we've come to know what a plot and setting is, we can now dive into the plot and setting of this movie.

The plot

The main character, Joe, a music teacher with dreams of being a jazz pianist finally gets his big shot, but then poof he falls down a hole and ends up in this weird place called the Great Before, a place where souls get their personalities before they're born.

And he doesn't want to be there, he wants to get back to his life and play music so he teams up with this soul named 22, who doesn't want to go to Earth either. However, they went on an adventure together to try and get Joe back to his body and hoping that in the process 22 might just find her spark too. In the end, Joe learns that maybe his dream isn't everything, and 22 learns what it means to really live.

The Setting

First, we have the "real" world, where Joe lives in as New York City, filled with hustle and bustle, the music clubs, the streets, and his apartment. It feels lively and real, especially when you see Joe teaching and hanging out with his friends and family.

Then, things get trippy when Joe "dies", he goes to the Great Before, a sort of pre-life place, an all dreamy and abstract, with these floating islands and counselors that look like they're made of lines, a place where souls get their personalities and find their "spark" before they go to Earth. Just a cool, imaginative place, like a cosmic waiting room.

Then there's also the Great Beyond, which is where souls go after they have lived. Although I was not shown much, but it gives a sense of the cycle of life and death.

Now, these settings show the contrast between the real world and the spiritual one, and are so creative to make viewers think about life, dreams, and what is really important.

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If you were the Director of the movie what would you do differently?

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Well, I would say there was much to explore as it practically covered every angle very well. But then, if I was the director, here is what I'd do differently:

First, I'd spend some time exploring the Great Beyond as we get only a glimpse of it, so I'd love to see what happens to souls after they "live". Maybe show different afterlives or what happens when a soul is ready to move on. I think it could add a deeper layer to the whole life cycle thing.

I'd also give maybe a little more screen time to the other souls in the Great Before as the whole focus was on 22. Maybe some mini-stories about how they discover their passions.

Finally, I'd make sure the ending really hits home. I think it's good, but I'd try to make it even more emotional. Maybe show Joe living his life, embracing the small moments, and appreciating what he has. It would be a powerful message about living in the present.

But overall all, it is an interesting watch as I couldn't cover all of it in a summary and if you are interested is seeing this movie, well, here is a download link for you.

To Download Soul, click here

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I want to take this opportunity to invite @bossj23, @saintkelvin17 and @kidi40.

Thank You for your Time

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NOTE: Always have a smile on your face, as you are never fully dressed without one.