It
is an animated film, but it touches on several of China’s territorial disputes.
The plucky young heroes are on the road to Mt. Everest, claimed by both China
and Nepal, but the entire nation of Tibet is an occupied sovereign state. Yet,
passions were really enflamed by the blink-and-you-missed-it appearance of
China’s so-called “Nine-Dash Line” demarcating their illegal claim to hegemony
over the South China Sea. It was on-screen long enough for Vietnam to ban the
film and Malaysia to demand the scene be cut. Perversely, this time around, the
Hollywood studio declined snip the offending image, presumably for fear of
offending China. The geopolitical context is quite ugly, but the story and
characters are cute in Jill Culton’s Abominable, a Chinese co-production co-directed by Todd
Wilderman, which releases today on DVD.
Young
Yi still mourns the loss of her father, from whom she first learned violin. As
a coping mechanism, she works relentlessly, hoping to save enough money for the
trip across China they always dreamed of taking. Then one night, she comes face
to face with a giant hairy monster on the roof of her building.
The
shy creature she dubs “Everest,” due to the clear homesick yearning inspired by
a Mt. Everest billboard, is a fugitive from the sinister Burnish Corporation. Years
ago, Mr. Burnish (an Anglo elite, naturally) swore he saw a yeti, but the world
scoffed, so he has obsessively searched for another such beast ever since.
Actually, Burnish (who looks a lot like Waldorf from the Muppets) is not nearly
as nasty as his ambitious science advisor, Dr. Zara. She will be in hot pursuit
behind Yi as she tries to lead Everest back home. She will have the dubious
help of her enthusiastic little cousin Peng and the reluctant company of her
popular, Fuerdai-esque neighbor Jin.
No
doubt about it, Everest is just a big, endearing fur ball. His character design
is rather simple, but totally charming. Yi is also likably earnest and
resourceful. However, the best aspect of the animation are the strikingly
scenic backdrops. From the sparkle of the Shanghai skyline to grandeur of
Leshan Giant Buddha, Abominable truly looks terrific.
Of
course, the story is a bit shopworn, incorporating elements from all kinds of
prior films, such as Free Willy, Okja, and E.T. At least, it is
not as anti-west as it initially appears, given Burnish’s redemptive arc.
Regardless, you probably think you know exactly where this is all heading and
you really should be right.
It
is definitely worth seeing the Leshan Giant Buddha with a big hairy yeti,
especially when there is stirring violin accompaniment (probably the best music
of the film). It is fully qualified for Oscar consideration as best animated
feature this year. Funan is by far the best of the contenders, by far,
but Abominable is still better than at least half of the field. The film
is recommended, but not its geopolitics. Mostly worth seeing for the visuals
and warm, fuzzy Everest, Abominable is now available on DVD.
