An insight into meaning and purpose: A Review of Pixar's "Soul" (2020)

When I was a child, Disney was fun, light-hearted, and something to keep you entertained. I used to watch Disney so much when I was a child and the classics like The Lion King will always be top for me but this one might just be up there with the top tier gang. Hear me out… I know the Disney these days isn’t the same - They’re fun, animated, and cute, however, they’re usually just that. Soul stands out to me more than others because of its deep and thought-provoking undertones and let me tell you right now… I wasn’t ready!

I guess the clue is in the name but your first assumption would be that of uplifting and musical vibes - which it is… BUT it’s also kinda deep. It’s obviously for children, but I think the real message is for the adults… or maybe it’s just me and this strange year that’s got me looking at things differently!

The concept is deep but the message still relays well with the younger generation: A music teacher accidentally falls to his death just before he lands the biggest gig of his life - or so he thinks. In realising what has happened, he scrambles franticly to get a second chance at life but instead discovers his soul - and the real purpose of life…

I don’t know if it was done intentionally, but there was no better time to release this film than now. The timing was impeccable! Whilst the world has faced many obstacles and challenges globally, privately and professionally, most of us will now enter 2021 either a new person or as someone with a completely different mindset. This year really shook us to the core and no matter where you were before, this pandemic forced us to pause, reflect, adapt, and re-evaluate. It’s forced us to slow down and take action and in a way, Soul mirrors that reality for many of us. That self-reflection experienced by Joe with the sudden changes to his life, reflects the inner-reflection most of us are experiencing now.

As I said, this film was deeeep but very necessary. As we’ve experienced the whirlwind that is 2020, many have realised that jobs, relationships, habits, etc are not for them anymore whilst others have started to question life decisions. For Joe, his life-long ambition was to make it as a Jazz musician and not the teaching job he has. But it’s not until he’s about to achieve that goal, that he sees his life in its true reality and not the one he curated in his head. This reflection revealed that perhaps our perception is not always accurate and there are more things we miss out on than we think. Joe was ready to fight for a life that he thought he wanted, only to realise that everything he wanted didn’t give him the satisfaction he had hoped for. He had lost his “spark.”

Soul is about humbling yourself enough to face your truth in the eyes of another and the realisations may not be pretty, but it’s imperative for growth. The character 22 offers that insight for Joe and vice-versa. Where 22 has no interest in life before, Joe has no spark and does not appreciate the life before him. It is only when they are faced to live a new life, and when they have no control that they are forced to finally listen and learn.

A powerful scene from the film is the barbershop scene. I won’t spoil anything, but with Joe having no control over his body, and with 22 experiencing others for the first time, this scene ignites a spark that was missing from both. It is in this moment that Joe realises his almost narcissistic traits, his obnoxious attitudes, and a realisation that he isn’t as invested in the happiness of others as he had thought. On the flip-side, 22 is enlightened and her perceptions of what she thought of the world (and her value in it) are shattered.

The film does not just encourage us to look at our lives and our purpose but also appreciate and value the lives around us. It is so easy to become lost and self-absorbed when you are focused which means you miss out on the small, meaningful things that happen in life - who you inspire, how you help others, the memories you make, and your presence… It is so easy to be present, however, that is not enough. You can be present and still not be living.

Although it seems as though the film is perhaps deeper than its audience, it is still filled with rhythm and has a child-friendly approach. Some may argue that children may not pick up on its message or the nuances in culture and life and may question to what extent would children get the message? Well, I watched this with a 9-year-old who picked up on the messages as quickly as us adults so the message is definitely getting across! Yes, it may not resonate with children on the same level, but Pixar manages to teach children to appreciate and live life from an early stage through this film which I think is so pure.

The film left me thinking about things we do on a daily… do we have a fear of living when it comes down to what we want and what we think we want? Is what we are doing serving us a purpose? Why is 22 so fixated on not living life? To an extent are we like that? We often like to live through people’s experiences to cut corners but maybe we must also try to live those experiences for ourselves as it may be a different experience for us as 22 found out. These are all things that can enable self-reflection- especially before a new year.

I loved this film for many reasons… the black representation, the pausing of life and, the message of relationships and communication. Soul touches on the importance of mentorship and how it is a two-way street. Although one starts off as a mentor or guide, both end up learning from each other - but this can only be accomplished with an open and accepting mind. Maybe this is something we can actively implement in our lives? The film starts with Joe’s eyes - a subtle foreboding of the future reflection of his soul.

Lastly, it teaches us that no day is promised and encourages us to cherish each day as it comes. It’s important to have goals, but living blindly through life does not serve a purpose. In a way, our lives have been turned on its head this year and many of us have learned valuable lessons. This is a film I’ll certainly watch again, and I’d encourage you to watch it if you can!

The film is currently available on Disney Plus.

Rating: 9.5/10

Liz x

If you liked this, you might like Lessons Learned: what 2020 taught me which is also available in audio form x