Heart of cinema.

Hugo
Directed by Martin Scorsese



Every director has at least one great movie in him, some have a masterpiece, few have a couple of them. Scorsese has proven throughout his career that he has more than enough serviceable films. This time he pours his love of cinema to create a great one.

I have never particularly liked Scorsese, I’ve always thought that even though his films are perfectly crafted they lack something. Hugo lacks nothing, it is a beautiful love letter to filmmaking and film pioneers, specifically George Melies, father of the special effects and fantasy films. And who better to use as main character in a movie devoted to the magic of cinema than the great dream weaver, Melies, the magician.

It is obvious Scorsese identified himself completely with the title character, his meticulous craftsmanship, his love of cinema and his mission to save filmmakers and films from being forgotten or lost forever, makes Hugo not just a mirror image but an autobiography.

Through masterful technique Scorsese makes 3D an organic element that actually enhances the experience rather than hinders its enjoyment. Story wise Hugo starts slow and it takes its time to get somewhere but when it finally does the wait really pays off.

The joy of the film is even greater for cinephiles since, Hugo is full to the brim of cinematic quotes and references, from slapstick, to Harold Lloyd to Hitchcock, even a re imagining of the Lumiere brothers’ “Arrival of a train at La Ciotat”.

Regardless, you don’t need to be a cinephile and get all the references to enjoy and appreciate the film. It’s main theme about broken souls and heartshaped keys is the core of the story. A person that is not fulfilling its life mission is akin to a broken machine that needs repairing. Just as Hugo repairs the automaton he also repairs Melies’ and his own soul in the process.

Life can sometimes throw at us events that may break us, let’s try to maintain a well oiled mechanism to avoid the future need of repairs, so we can keep functioning to fulfill our own mission.