The film follows Luki, a robot who enjoys playing soccer with his friends. One day, he notices that his arm is malfunctioning and that the light in it has gone out (the robots have lightbulbs in their bodies to symbolize life). Unfortunately, Luki learns that he has ALS, a disease with a bleak outlook - but, despite his deteriorating health, he shows how he can still make something wonderful out of any situation.
To begin with, I love how the robot, Luki, has so many human attributes and does so many human things from making his morning coffee to taking a shower to sleeping in a bed and living in a house, just like a human would do. It makes him very relatable. I like that the story is told not only from Luki's perspective, but also from that of his friends'. It reminds us that many people are affected by a bad diagnosis, and it's important to make happy memories with your loved ones while you can. I really like the art style for the animation - the color palette is bright and mostly warm. Several times during the movie, there is a shot of Luki's bedside table, showing the progress of the disease as he eventually struggles to switch his alarm clock off. These scenes are necessary to maintain consistency in the film. All the characters in the film are animated robots of different shapes and sizes. Luki is a human-like robot with a square head and a screen for a face, and he has lightbulbs all over his body. The light bulbs going out one by one are a fitting representation of deterioration because it is accurate without being too harsh. Although the film is animated, we see some beautiful landscapes of sunsets and grassy hills where Luki plays with his friends - this is the spot Luki ultimately chooses as his final resting place. The music throughout the film is uplifting, which helps us deal with a pretty sorrowful storyline. Happy music keeps the balance and makes for a wholesome film, rather than a downhearted one. The film has no actors, and there is no dialogue. However, Luki still undergoes character development. After his diagnosis he is sad and angry, but he manages to rise up and keep his mind open. He decides to do something proactive with his emotions and even builds himself a wheelchair he had previously resented. He learns to see the bright side of a bad situation when he challenges his friend to a race and wins because of his wheelchair. My favorite part of the movie is a scene after Luki's death. His friends take a walk in their favorite park, where there is now a bench dedicated to Luki. They play a game of soccer, just as they would have with their best friend. This is my favorite part because it shows recovery after a loss -- Luki's friends miss him, but they know Luki would want them to move on and find happiness again.
Luki and the Lights was written by Sascha and Anjo when Anjo was diagnosed with ALS to help their kids grasp what Anjo was going through. There is no cure for ALS at this time. This is a heartwarming film about learning to make the most out of what you have and living life to the fullest day by day. The world is an unfair place sometimes, but if you keep a positive mindset, nobody can stop you from having fun! Though Luki and the Lights is wholesome and may help a child process a loss or diagnosis, it is also emotionally heavy, as we watch the main character deteriorate and eventually die. There is nothing inappropriate about this film, but parents may want to consider how their own children will handle the content.
I give Luki and the Lights 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. I recommend this film for a youth and family film festival because it is a beautiful story about overcoming loss and encourages viewers to keep a positive outlook on life. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
The film follows Luki, a robot who enjoys playing soccer with his friends. One day, he notices that his arm is malfunctioning and that the light in it has gone out (the robots have lightbulbs in their bodies to symbolize life). Unfortunately, Luki learns that he has ALS, a disease with a bleak outlook - but, despite his deteriorating health, he shows how he can still make something wonderful out of any situation.
To begin with, I love how the robot, Luki, has so many human attributes and does so many human things from making his morning coffee to taking a shower to sleeping in a bed and living in a house, just like a human would do. It makes him very relatable. I like that the story is told not only from Luki's perspective, but also from that of his friends'. It reminds us that many people are affected by a bad diagnosis, and it's important to make happy memories with your loved ones while you can. I really like the art style for the animation - the color palette is bright and mostly warm. Several times during the movie, there is a shot of Luki's bedside table, showing the progress of the disease as he eventually struggles to switch his alarm clock off. These scenes are necessary to maintain consistency in the film. All the characters in the film are animated robots of different shapes and sizes. Luki is a human-like robot with a square head and a screen for a face, and he has lightbulbs all over his body. The light bulbs going out one by one are a fitting representation of deterioration because it is accurate without being too harsh. Although the film is animated, we see some beautiful landscapes of sunsets and grassy hills where Luki plays with his friends - this is the spot Luki ultimately chooses as his final resting place. The music throughout the film is uplifting, which helps us deal with a pretty sorrowful storyline. Happy music keeps the balance and makes for a wholesome film, rather than a downhearted one. The film has no actors, and there is no dialogue. However, Luki still undergoes character development. After his diagnosis he is sad and angry, but he manages to rise up and keep his mind open. He decides to do something proactive with his emotions and even builds himself a wheelchair he had previously resented. He learns to see the bright side of a bad situation when he challenges his friend to a race and wins because of his wheelchair. My favorite part of the movie is a scene after Luki's death. His friends take a walk in their favorite park, where there is now a bench dedicated to Luki. They play a game of soccer, just as they would have with their best friend. This is my favorite part because it shows recovery after a loss -- Luki's friends miss him, but they know Luki would want them to move on and find happiness again.
Luki and the Lights was written by Sascha and Anjo when Anjo was diagnosed with ALS to help their kids grasp what Anjo was going through. There is no cure for ALS at this time. This is a heartwarming film about learning to make the most out of what you have and living life to the fullest day by day. The world is an unfair place sometimes, but if you keep a positive mindset, nobody can stop you from having fun! Though Luki and the Lights is wholesome and may help a child process a loss or diagnosis, it is also emotionally heavy, as we watch the main character deteriorate and eventually die. There is nothing inappropriate about this film, but parents may want to consider how their own children will handle the content.
I give Luki and the Lights 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. I recommend this film for a youth and family film festival because it is a beautiful story about overcoming loss and encourages viewers to keep a positive outlook on life. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
Through the lens of LUKi's unwavering resilience, the story of his battle against ALS transforms into a testament to the human (and robotic) spirit's ability to find light even in the darkest of times. With every choice he makes, every smile he shares, and every second he cherishes, LUKi paints a vivid portrait of what it means to truly live, even as the sands of time slip through his grasp.
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