The story follows a young girl name Layla, who has a cat named Mr. Purr that she loves dearly. She notices that he keeps appearing in random suitcases around her house, almost like magic. One day, her grandmother arrives at their house, at first she seems angry and cold, but as Layla begins to talk to her, she develops a kind of relationship with her that they did not have before. Layla and her grandmother travel into a special world deep inside the suitcase.
I really love how simple the storyline is, but also how the writers were able to fit so much context into the plot. The magical world in the suitcase is a metaphor for how beautiful our imaginations can be. Specifically, I love how the cat keeps coming back into the storyline, whether it helps the plot, or just adds a little nuance and simplicity. I also love how Layla works hard to make sure her grandmother has access to their little adventure, even though she is in a wheelchair.
The camera work is very high-quality; it feels like a feature film. The editing, especially in the suitcase, is well done and believable. The cinematography shows specific emotions in the actors' faces, and really highlights their intentions, even when they aren't saying anything. It would look great on a big screen. The costumes suit, the storyline and, although they are simple, they have meaning. When the grandmother decides to take off her head scarf, it shows a level of comfort she has with her granddaughter. Also, the adventurous outfit that Layla has on at the end looks almost thrown together, something a child would have in the room, which is perfect for the scene. The locations set the story perfectly, complementing the plot and adding to the visuals. The scene where Layla runs around in an open field stands out to me because the simplicity and vastness of the green is just beautiful and represents the story very beautifully. The background music is pretty simple, but suits the idea of the film. The music reflects the emotions of the actors.
The only special or visual effect is the suitcase. The light coming from the suitcase is a well-known effect in many storylines, and it's a well-used here. When we see the inside of the suitcase and glimpse a piece of sky, it is mostly believable. The editing is not flawless, but it's good. The character development is really beautiful. Anna Lucia Gualano portrays the character Layla in a very friendly and warm way. The relationship that she develops over the course of film with her grandmother shows just how much a character can mature and learn from their elders. It also brings a sense of imagination to her after she hears the different stories from her grandmother. My favorite part of the film is when Layla describes the magic suitcase to her grandmother and it starts to light up. The look on her grandmother's face, when she realizes that Layla's imagination has come to life, is just beautiful. It's a wholesome moment shared between them.
The film's message is that people have so many layers beneath what you see on the surface. People are sometimes very guarded and you have to really get to know and understand them before you understand what they are feeling.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. I recommend it for the KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals because it really has a wholesome relationship between Layla and her grandmother, which is a great example for kids. By Nyara A., KIDS FIRST!
The story follows a young girl name Layla, who has a cat named Mr. Purr that she loves dearly. She notices that he keeps appearing in random suitcases around her house, almost like magic. One day, her grandmother arrives at their house, at first she seems angry and cold, but as Layla begins to talk to her, she develops a kind of relationship with her that they did not have before. Layla and her grandmother travel into a special world deep inside the suitcase.
I really love how simple the storyline is, but also how the writers were able to fit so much context into the plot. The magical world in the suitcase is a metaphor for how beautiful our imaginations can be. Specifically, I love how the cat keeps coming back into the storyline, whether it helps the plot, or just adds a little nuance and simplicity. I also love how Layla works hard to make sure her grandmother has access to their little adventure, even though she is in a wheelchair.
The camera work is very high-quality; it feels like a feature film. The editing, especially in the suitcase, is well done and believable. The cinematography shows specific emotions in the actors' faces, and really highlights their intentions, even when they aren't saying anything. It would look great on a big screen. The costumes suit, the storyline and, although they are simple, they have meaning. When the grandmother decides to take off her head scarf, it shows a level of comfort she has with her granddaughter. Also, the adventurous outfit that Layla has on at the end looks almost thrown together, something a child would have in the room, which is perfect for the scene. The locations set the story perfectly, complementing the plot and adding to the visuals. The scene where Layla runs around in an open field stands out to me because the simplicity and vastness of the green is just beautiful and represents the story very beautifully. The background music is pretty simple, but suits the idea of the film. The music reflects the emotions of the actors.
The only special or visual effect is the suitcase. The light coming from the suitcase is a well-known effect in many storylines, and it's a well-used here. When we see the inside of the suitcase and glimpse a piece of sky, it is mostly believable. The editing is not flawless, but it's good. The character development is really beautiful. Anna Lucia Gualano portrays the character Layla in a very friendly and warm way. The relationship that she develops over the course of film with her grandmother shows just how much a character can mature and learn from their elders. It also brings a sense of imagination to her after she hears the different stories from her grandmother. My favorite part of the film is when Layla describes the magic suitcase to her grandmother and it starts to light up. The look on her grandmother's face, when she realizes that Layla's imagination has come to life, is just beautiful. It's a wholesome moment shared between them.
The film's message is that people have so many layers beneath what you see on the surface. People are sometimes very guarded and you have to really get to know and understand them before you understand what they are feeling.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. I recommend it for the KIDS FIRST! Film Festivals because it really has a wholesome relationship between Layla and her grandmother, which is a great example for kids. By Nyara A., KIDS FIRST!
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