My Life as a Zucchini was just something I really needed when I was a little kid. It deals with trauma and child neglect in this very particular way that was really captivating and completely surprising to see in this format.
As a kid who grew up without parents and dealt with a similar situation to these kids I was really touched. I’d never seen my own childhood reflected in such an open way. I grew up knowing kids who were adopted, living in group homes, had alcoholic or drug abusing parents, were being abused physically, sexually or mentally, and to see this on screen with animated characters was just truly unique.
The film also takes many times to just pause and focus on the emotion of these characters. In this scene, nothing is said, but as someone who grew up without a mother I wanted to cry. Because this is exactly how it feels when you watch other kids with moms and dads who love them.
There’s just a sinking loneliness to it. A feeling of desire and longing that is never really fulfilled as you grow up. And the film never shied away from moments like that.
It also never felt the need to clarify or talk down to its viewers. It just paused and took a moment to let the emotion sink in.
It even went further in discussing the children’s backgrounds. One was the child of drug addicts, another one’s dad killed her mom, one’s mother was deported and another is suggested to have been sexually abused by her father. It’s never said out right but he’s described as a weirdo who’s now in prison and she repeatedly shakes and bangs a fork on her dish when she gets nervous. I was so surprised to see them go that far with the characters. I always felt like my childhood was taboo and told things like, “Don’t tell the other kids or you’ll scare them” and it always made me feel isolated and lonely. The only ones who understand you are the other kids who were dealing with things just like you.
I think this is a perfect example of how style really does matter. Had this same story been told with real
children and not stop-motion animation it would have lost a lot of its
charm. It was in the fact that we were seeing these small doll-like
characters in incredibly bright colors that made the story so unique.
The characters mimic the way the children draw and color which becomes a
motif throughout the story. Here’s a clip about the making of the film:
The two women are depicted in a form typical to married couples. Idet is given priority by the artist who placed her on the right, and is given the title “Lady of the House”.
im into some fucked up shit. raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. brown paper packages tied of with strings. i could go on but you couldnt even handle it
Holy fuck of course the jjba people could do it, the death note functions almost like a Stand. There are bullshit rules, there is a dude who actually does the powers for you
Mulder: clearly this is the work of a vengeful god of death
Scully: look, that’s nonsense, this detective’s son fits all the classic signifiers of a serial killer-