The first thing to know about I Lost My Body is that it is a deep, thoughtful, odd, and fantastic movie. Don’t watch the trailers. Just know that it is about a young man dealing with loss, separation, and finding happiness, and that it is incredible.
The story here is simple, but the storytelling comes in various forms that run very smoothly together. Without going into the depths of what happens, I found the story and journey to be fresh, straightforward and yet, very compelling at every turn. I was frequently in awe of the quiet and quaint movements of the characters or I was on the edge of my seat to just see what would happen next. The storytelling, tension, and pacing were great from beginning to end. I was also very pleased how much the movie trusts the audience to think, ponder, and actively engage. That being said, I Lost My Body is not a Friday night blockbuster or a party movie. It is art in its most primal and true form, a deep look into the hearts, lives, and emotions of everyday people. Nothing truly worth it is just handed to a person on a plate, the viewer should try and look for details, symbols and the emotional journey of the characters.
I Lost My Body was wonderfully animated. A lot of great still shots and imagery were used frequently to show the audience, not tell the audience, what was happening. I highly suggest you watch the movie with English subtitles and French original audio. The English dub is fine, but the personalities are somewhat lost with the English dub. Also because there is so much visual storytelling and relatively short bursts of actual dialogue, the original French is absolutely worth it. There were some scenes in the second act that looked a little choppy or lower frame rate, but overall, the style and visuals are great.
Between the fantastic original music, the various songs from different genres and artists and general sound design, make sure you can hear every moment and word from this movie. The music is so perfect at creating atmosphere and mood, it gives me goosebumps (even on second viewing). The original song that goes through the movie is also brilliantly used, never overbearing or cliche, truly tying the movie’s ideas and themes together. I happily listen to just about all the songs outside of the movie, possibly the best soundtrack of the year.
This gem of a film isn’t going to be appreciated by the general public, and probably won’t be appreciated for a while, but it should be. It has been days since I first watched I Lost My Body and so many scenes, songs and ideas have been on my mind this whole time. Go into this movie with an open mind and just go along for the wild and obscure ride, it is easily one of the best movies of the year. Let us know what you thought and what your other favorite movies of 2019 are.
