Want a great book to read and a fabulous movie to watch? Check out “The Invention of Hugo Cabret “by Brian Selznick or the wonderful movie, “Hugo” directed by Martin Scorsese.
Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese
Throughout his extraordinary career, Academy Award-wining director Martin Scorsese has brought his unique vision and dazzling gifts to life in a series of unforgettable films. This holiday season the legendary storyteller invites you to join him on a thrilling journey to a magical world with his first-ever 3-D film, based on Brian Selznick's award-winning, imaginative New York Times best-seller, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." Hugo is the astonishing adventure of a wily and resourceful boy whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him, and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home. – Paramount
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
“Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” – author Brian Selznick
The story is about Hugo, a young orphan boy, living in the
walls of the Paris train station in 1931 where he tends to all of the clocks in
the station. Hugo continues his father’s job once of winding the clocks and keeping
them running in the train station. His father, once a clockmaker and museum
curator, died tragically in a fire. Now that his father is dead, 12-year-old Hugo
must continue his work in the station without being caught and sent off to an
orphanage. But that isn’t all Hugo must do. He also continues to work on an
automation (a mechanical imitation of a human being) that his father had
brought home from the museum. Now he is obsessed in making the automation work
in memory of his father. To do this he must steal parts from the grumpy old toy
maker in the train station. But in the process of stealing the parts and trying not to get caught, Hugo
befriends the toy maker’s granddaughter (also an orphan who was much more
fortunate than Hugo). Together the two unlock the mystery of filmmaking.
This is more than a story about a young orphan boy. It is
also about the beginnings of filmmaking and the life of the real French
filmmaker George Melies (who is played fabulously by Ben Kingsley in the movie). Melies was a magician before he became
a filmmaker in the 1900’s. Author
Brian Selznick says that this book was inspired by one of Melies first movies
in 1902, “A Trip to the Moon;” a film about a rocket that zooms towards the
moon that has a human face on it. Once the rocket hits the face squarely into
the eye, a liquid oozes from the moon.
“Hugo” can be seen in 3-D. Why 3-D? Because Scorsese wanted
depth added to his film and he wanted to make it real by having the story come to
life for the audience. Scorsese wanted the audience to actually be a part of
the film, and he did so successfully.
Personally, I think the movie portrays a different part of
this story, the history of filmmaking. This movie isn’t only for kids (probably
not the young ones as the movie is a bit too long) but also a great one for
adults too. Can you imagine watching some of the history of filmmaking in 3-D
by one of the most infamous filmmakers of all time? While the movie is long,
both the movie and book are highly recommended for ages nine and up.
The book itself is a beautiful piece of work, winning the
Caldecott Award in 2008. Brian Selznick created a story that is half pictures
and half words. This 500 plus page book is half text and half finely penciled
illustrations that tell the story in turn. A must read book for all middle
grades.
Read the book first and then go see the movie, or see the
movie first and then read the book. Either way, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Rarely does a movie live up to the
expectations of the book. Kudos to Martin Scorsese for making a magnificent
film while also staying true to the book. This film is truly a moving tribute
to filmmakers everywhere. Both Scorsese and Selznick should be commended for
helping us to remember the past.
