In ancient Greece, the word for the soul was
psyche. It is likely related to
psykhein, meaning âto breatheâ or âto blow,â which may come from the Indo-European root -
bhes, meaning âbreath.â All of this is still with us in the idea of the divine breath that animates the flesh; in the related word âspiritâ; and in the notion of inspirationâbreathing life, excitement, joy into a person or a work of art.
Pixarâs new film, âSoul,â is shaped by these currents. It takes place in two worlds: the one we know, and an airy realm above that includes both the Great Beyond and the Great Before. In this upper realm, human souls are phosphorescent little blobsâhalf Casper, half sperm. Dead souls, on their way to the Great Beyond, stand on a transparent moving sidewalk that carries them steadily up toward a dazzling pointillist sun, which seems to be made up of them. In the Great Before, unborn souls, each given a number, bounce
Joe Gardner has always felt like he was “born to play” jazz piano. When he fulfills his dream of playing with famous saxophonist Dorothea Williams, he asks her, “So, what happens next?” She responds: “We come back tomorrow night and do it all again.” Despondently, Joe confesses, “I’ve been waiting on this day for my entire life. I thought I’d feel different.”
Disney Pixar’s
Soul offers a surprisingly heady philosophical message to a distressed generation that is trying to find purpose through meaningful work. The film’s main insight is something Christians already know: There’s more to life than our accomplishments. In fact, this realization is what inspired the film’s concept, according to director Pete Docter. After completing the popular Pixar film
Weâve been waiting a long time for âSoul,â but maybe this is when we most need it.
The latest Pixar movie, directed by Pete Docter (âInside Out,â âUpâ) and co-directed by Kemp Powers, was originally supposed to be in theaters last summer, but the coronavirus pandemic moved it to a Christmas release; itâs now making its bow for home viewing only, through Disney+. A holiday gift, itâs bringing some much-needed light to these dark days.
Like Docterâs glorious âInside Out,â âSoulâ is an animated movie interested in big issues: Where do our personalities come from? What makes our lives worth living? What makes each of us unique? It tackles these questions through central character Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a Manhattan jazz pianist who teaches middle school band (just wait until you hear the trademark Disney music âWhen You Wish Upon a Starâ played by this group) and dreams of a gig thatâll take him to t
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