The 20th-century French naval officer, adventurer and researcher Jacques Cousteau remains an inspiring figure who stimulates the dreams of people all over the world, not least children like the one depicted in this Czech short film that was released in 2013. The little boy is alone in his bedroom, with no sign whatsoever of any adult presence in the vicinity. When the boy catches sight of the heroic figure of Commandant Cousteau, he - as if it’s the most natural thing in the world - sees him as a substitute father. Thus begins the child’s quest to track him down. And the mission proves to be all the more moving as it turns into a genuine coming-of-age expedition.
The lack of dialogue reflects the loneliness of this little boy who has no one to communicate with, and it also gives a foretaste of the famous “world of silence” that Cousteau loved. The boy is carried away both by his own dreams and by his yearning to travel from a city where he feels terribly alone and the ubiquitous snow seems to buffer contact with the immediate reality. So, looking for a way to escape, the boy answers the call of adventure with a cat who acts in cahoots with him.
This is a simple story driven by nostalgia, wanderlust and the desire for fantastic adventures. The soundtrack contributes plenty to the creation of a timeless, otherworldly atmosphere.
