Review of "Wrinkles"

This animated movie was originally released as "Arrugas" in 2011, and was based on a graphic novel by Paco Roca.  This new version has been given an English soundtrack, starring Martin Sheen and others.  The plot is simple and sad.  Emilio is a banker who has lost his wife and has problems with confusion and memory.  His son can't deal with him anymore, so Emilio moves into a residential home.  His roommate Miguel is full of life but he never married, and he takes pleasure in cheating the other residents of their money.  Emilio is happy to have someone to spend his time with, but he is less comfortable about Miguel's unethical behavior, and is sometimes suspicious that Miguel is stealing his belongings.  Emilio makes some other friends in the home too, but he increasingly gets lost in the past, and loses track of time. We see how the life there is sad and gets worse, but also involves some real generosity and fun.  It is a touching portrait of life of old people in a home, and is surprisingly moving.  This is helped by the sympathetic artwork, the well-chosen music, and the voices of the actors.  This is a difficult topic to portray in a movie, and Wrinkles does it very well. 

 

© 2014 Christian Perring

 

Christian Perring, Professor of Philosophy, Dowling College, New York