• The meaning of life

Jonas and the Sea

  • Marlies Van der Wel
  • 2015
  • Netherlands

Synopsis :

Ever since he can remember, Jonas has wanted just one thing: to live in the sea. But will he able to fulfil his dream in time?

Benshi's review :

A gorgeous treat for the eyes and a balm for the ears, Jonas and the Sea represents an incredible journey for animated cinema. This short film is like a water-based ballet, literally plunging us into the dreamworld of Jonas, a lonely character in thrall to a profound obsession with the sea. Ever since he was a little kid, this anti-hero has aspired to living a quiet and relaxing life among the fish. Seeking ways to achieve this impossible dream, Jonas has spent his whole life imagining strange inventions made from a whole raft of items collected on the beach. But with each new attempt, his utopian yearning is exposed as pure illusion. With the delicate touch and gorgeous look and feel we have come to expect from the universe she has created, Marlies van der Wel once again ventures into poetry to bring us this magnificent ode to life. And as with each of her other films, the Dutch illustrator conveys a deep morality, in this case regarding the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Jonas and the Sea highlights a variety of themes about life, such as greed, aspiration and isolation. As the story unfolds we learn that Jonas’s singular ambition has condemned him to being alone, because, sadly, others do not understand him. The character’s loneliness is represented by a dark and agitated image that symbolically makes us think of a turbulent sea. This moving and melancholic film is a fable about life and a sublime story about the power of persevering.

Suitable for :

For age 6+. A poetic and melancholic short film, Jonas and the Sea is recommended for children aged 6 and over.

Top reasons to watch the film :

  1. The splendid aquatic ballet scenes
  2. Its morality about the importance of living your dreams
  3. Its tender and poetic unvierse

Additional information :

Literary references The director and illustrator Marlies van der Wel drew on the wisdom of the writer Ernest Hemingway to add words to her film. The title Jonas and the Sea is an allusion to The Old Man and the Sea (1952), a story that captures the courage and energy of humans and a love for all beings. A short film that’s been a big hit Jonas and the Sea has enjoyed incredible international success. Its international premiere was the Berlinale and it has been selected for more than 170 festivals around the world. This acclaim led to the short film being adapted into a book in 2017. A unique creation Marlies van der Wel spent five years making Jonas and the Sea. In the end, nearly 150 shots were made using a collage technique combining artwork and objects found along the Dutch coast.

  • Keywords :

  • Sea
  • Loneliness
  • Inventions