Marona's Fantastic Tale

This bittersweet French chronicle of a lovable dog's memorable, melancholy life is poignant and philosophical in a way that's best suited for older kids and up. Although the movie is animated, it's not the typical funny "animals are so human-like" talking-dog adventure. Right up front, director Anca Damian spells out the fact that Marona is close to dying. This isn't a drill: She was just hit by a car and is recalling her life's highest highs and lowest lows. So it's not for viewers who are extra sensitive to dog deaths and suffering. And anyone who doesn't speak French should know that it's subtitled (rather than dubbed), which is wonderful, because Brocheré's voice beautifully captures the emotional beats of the story. Marona (aka Sara, aka Ana, aka 9) is a nuanced, layered character, and she perceives the world as a dog does, not a human. Even her description of playing catch is charmingly reversed: She thinks Istvan (probably her favorite of her loving but flawed humans) is the one who wants to throw the ball again and again.

The animation in Marona's Fantastic Tale is also done in a manner that evokes the dog's point of view -- with exaggerated and occasionally abstract depictions of bodies and faces and with her owners and loved ones always appearing larger than life and more vivid than those around them. Marona goes through a great deal of sadness and separation, and viewers of all ages will likely cry at her plight. Sometimes she chooses to leave someone for their own good; with others, she's left behind for one reason or another. She eventually comes to understand that life is full of pain and darkness but also joy and light. Existentialism aside, there are moments of humor and tenderness here, making this is a lovely treasure of an animated movie.