Children's International Film Festival - Trash
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Date Reviewed: 28/05/2022
Trash, is an animated film that reminds us to recycle, not dump. Directed by Francesco Dafano and Luca Della Grotta, it teaches the viewer about environmental sustainability in an innovative way using real settings in which 3D animated characters move. The film gives life and voice to objects now considered useless (empty packaging and waste) which long for a second life.
The premise of the film is clever, the waste or trash, thrown into the street, are alone on the ground, where everyone sees and everyone ignores them. Moved only when kicked, they remain helpless and motionless until night falls.
With the rising of the moon the waste comes to life, showing their true nature and soul. Among them is the Slim, a resigned cardboard box, now used, who lives in a market with Bubbles, the bottle of what was once a fizzy drink, and other friends. The garbage group tries to escape their greatest threat, that of the Suckers, the street sweepers that suck up garbage and sends it to its demise.
Among the waste, however, there is a story passed down over generations, that of the Magic Pyramid: a legendary place where they could have a second chance and become useful objects once again. But Slim has now given up and no longer believes that those like him will be given another chance, until an unexpected meeting with Spark, a small box, involves Slim and his friend Bubbles in an adventure which will take him to the place where he belongs, a toy store, or does he?
But someone is looking for Spark, Kudo, lord of the landfill. Kudo’s gang chases the group until they capture him. After a mighty battle Slim saves Spark and they can find the Magic Pyramid. At its base they fulfil their destiny, and they are given a second chance: another life.
As much as I applaud the makers of Trash for encouraging recycling and as much as I love a script with lines like, “You should have been a can of cashews, because you’re nuts!”, the running time of this movie is too long. Many of the sequences and explanations are drawn out unnecessarily. However, the characterisation of the items of trash, particularly Slim (Christian Iansante) and Spark (Alessandro Carloni) is impressive.
Trash is suited to an audience that can appreciate the adult humour, although the slapstick antics of the characters will appeal to a younger audience.
Reviewed by Barry Hill