Wrinkles is a long way from typical big screen animated fare. Its leads are old age pensioners, but
Up it most certainly is not. The Spanish made traditional animation (originally known as
Arrugas) is adapted from an acclaimed Graphic Novel and has been warmly received everywhere it has been released so far. The film follows the friendship of two elderly men Emilio and Miguel who meet in an old people's home. Wrinkles tackles subject matter that is rarely touched on by mainstream live-action cinema, let alone animation: one of the two is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. That doesn't mean that the film is a depressing watch though, and it has won plaudits for its heart-warming story and sympathetic characters. Certainly, it covers issues that will have touched many viewers and will cross cultural divides. If you're looking for an animated film that tells a very different- and very human- kind of story, then Wrinkles is it.
Nominated for 5 awards, the film has won 3 including two
Goyas (Spain's equivalent of the
Oscars) for best animated feature and best-adapted screenplay. Could it maybe also score nominations at next year's Oscars and
BAFTAs? Time will tell.
The English language version boasts the legendary
Martin Sheen in a lead role, and also includes
Matthew Modine and
George Coe among the cast.
Anchor Bay UK are releasing the film in limited release in UK cinemas from
April 18th, with the DVD and Blu-ray following on the
28th April. A US DVD release is planned in July 2014.
