“Mr. Hublot” tugs at the heartstrings with its portrayal of a tightly wound man learning to love.
The striking film "Mr. Hublot," directed by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares, is like Steampunk meets "The Jetsons"—a post-apocalyptic universe of steam-powered machines and propeller hats that allow citizens to take flight above it all.
Mr. Hublot, our esteemed, goggled, prominent-nosed protagonist, has made a refuge for himself in the midst of this chaotic world, but he is definitely not part of the world. His padlocked front door makes his home a vault of sorts, shutting out everything. He is quite content to keep it that way, even if it means being confined to an obsessive-compulsive existence, beginning and ending each day the same as the last.
Except that the yipping of a small robotic puppy living on the street below keeps drawing his attention to the world outside his window. The creature is trying to find refuge from the elements and the constant busy-ness of a world too preoccupied to take notice of him.
In the first of a few notable climatic turns, Hublot finally forces himself from the physical—and mental—confines of his sanctuary when he sees that unfortunate circumstances have befallen the pooch. He welcomes the creature into his world and goes through the growing pains of learning to share his space. His puppy also grows, literally. He becomes a dog, then a much bigger dog, until he becomes so massive that he begins to crush against the confines of the home Hublot has so painstakingly created. When it becomes too much for Hublot to bear, he decides to rectify the situation. My heart began to break, along with that of his robotic companion who looked questioningly at his owner and cowered, confused.
This film—which took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Short this year—definitely tugged at my heartstrings and my tear ducts more than a few times. This film offers a beautiful retelling of the "odd couple" story of the very neat man and his messy companion. But more importantly, the film shows the basic need for connection, love and understanding in a world where everything is overly-automated and moving at a rapid pace.
"Mr. Hublot" screens at 1:20 p.m. April 5 on Screen C as part of the Shorts 3: Animation for Adults block.
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