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SA Reviews: Soul

February 10, 2021

Does the search for the meaning of life have a place in the genre of children’s entertainment? Disney Pixar’s new animated movie, Soul, tackles the weight of finding one’s purpose while engaging audiences of all ages.

When we take a closer look at the “golden age” of Pixar, including famous titles such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story, we find captivating classics that seem relatable despite their setting being incredibly unrealistic to the viewer. What sets most of Pixar’s films apart are the common themes they portray.

Pixar often focuses on family dynamics, and personal identity struggles. In their recent releases however, we see these relatable themes taking a deeper turn, through an incredibly realistic set of characters. In films such as Inside Out, Up, and Coco, the creators show us a wider view into the common lives of the characters. We see how real their situations are, and even begin to put ourselves into their shoes. This allows Pixar to tackle bigger themes and questions in their films.

In Soul, the creators approach the question that many struggle to answer, what is my purpose in life?  Soul follows the main character, Joe, as he chases endlessly after his dream of being a jazz artist. Through a series of misfortunate events, we watch as Joe travels between Earth, “The Great Beyond”, and “The Great Before”. The latter two being embodiments of “heaven”. “The Great Before” is where souls are created, given passions, and sent to earth, while “The Great Beyond” is Pixar’s portrayal of an afterlife.

While this film does approach many difficult topics, making it difficult for younger viewers to remain interested, it does create a beautiful world filled with many intriguing landscapes and characters that could retain the attention of a younger crowd. I would argue, however, that Soul was indented for an adult audience. Many of the situations, emotions, and difficulties pictured throughout the story hit very close to home for many older viewers.

As a young adult, I personally related to the pursuit of finding my “purpose”. During this time, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of nerves and anxiety for what the future holds. We often put so much pressure on achieving specific goals or milestones, that we can be left dissatisfied when we finally reach that point. Soul takes a lot of pressure off of finding one fulfilling meaning to life, while the ending even leaves a lot of missing pieces for the viewer to fill in. As we watch the main characters discovering their identity, we never get the satisfaction of knowing their answer. While this may bother some viewers, who enjoy a clean-cut ending, I thought it fit the nature of the film perfectly. It encourages the viewer to release the importance of achieving a specific calling or major goal, and to find your passions by enjoying each facet and avenue of life.

What is important to consider in this piece is how it should influence us as followers of Christ. For non-believers it can be easy to fall into a rut, trying to find some magical moment in life that would make everything worth it. However, chasing after the passions of this world will leave us with nothing but disappointment and want. As Christians, we are given freedom! Freedom from anxiety, confusion, and emptiness. We are no longer lost on a spiral of self-fulfillment. Instead, we are given an established hope and calling through Christ that provides clarity and structure to an otherwise meaningless world.

It breaks my heart to see so many of my unsaved friends trying anything and everything to feel some sort of fulfillment. They spend so much time searching for an answer that can only be satisfied through a relationship with Jesus. While these pursuits may result is temporary highs, they often find themselves lonely, confused, and scared of the future when left alone with their thoughts.

When watching Soul, I was reminded of the hope found in Christ. In the movie, one of the main characters, “22” is trying to find her “spark”. The spark is what motivates a soul. It is the underlying passion that completes the very being of an individual. As Christians, our spark is the Gospel. We are so motivated by Jesus’s sacrifice that it influences our very being inside and out.

Overall, I thought Soul was incredibly entertaining and captivating. It captured many real, raw, emotions and concerns we face day to day, while maintaining a motivating and upbeat attitude that is appropriate for younger viewers.


 

Written by: Lisa Diaczynsky

Lisa is a Junior studying Business Administration and Graphic Design. She enjoys writing for the blog to express her creativity as well as sharing her views and opinions. She is passionate about healthy relationships, graphic design, social/political reform and mental health.