Hugo (2011)

Hugo: The Message

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Maddy Olson blogs on a variety of subjects that are deep topics and can change lives. Writing about the costume fun experts at costumesupercenter.com  is a very rewarding way to express her creativity and she absolutely loves it! Having four children of her own has allowed her to use the imagination she was gifted with and share that with you.

HUGO (2011)

My son has read the book, by Brian Selznick, twice before this movie came out. It made a reader out of him and filled his mind with positive outlooks on his own life.

The story is set in 1931 Paris. Hugo had lost his mother and endures some very tough times with the father he adores. However, together they had fixing an automaton, trying to get the little robot to work again. Through many events, Hugo ends up an apprentice at the train station monitoring and fixing the clocks there.

Hugo has a knack…a knack for collecting little pieces of machinery, cogs, rods, and switches in an effort to finally get the little robot working! However, the toymaker in the train station does not approve of his items coming up missing and makes Hugo pay him back by working for him.

By meeting the toymaker, Hugo meets a little gal that becomes his friend, who cares about him. At one point he shares a very touching sentiment about how he views his relationship to the world.

“Sometimes I come up here at night, even when I’m not fixing the clocks, just to look at the city. I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of part they need. So I figure if the entire world is one big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.”

--Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This little boy learns about loving himself and trusting others even when his mind might tell him not to. He faces fears and finds ways to overcome some tough situations. He stands up to those bigger than him to do the right thing. And he learns to love again. In his journey, he brings hope to those around him and exercises compassion. In his own journey to find out who he is, he helps a lost soul to find their way and realize their potential.

My son took away many lessons and ways to find value in life. In fact, he read it twice. We went and saw this movie together and he was so excited to see those characters come to life and he wiped one of the tears I cried and just held my hand. It was a bonding experience for the both of us. A moment I spent trying to understand my son and it was a time that he could share something valuable with me. It isn’t every day that you get to peek inside a child’s mind and see the gigantic world through their eyes.

There were some that felt disappointed in the flick. To them I say that they missed the message that was being conveyed. If you want an action packed film, this is not the one. This is about self-reliance, self-love, and acceptance. Allow yourself a couple of hours to fall into this young boy’s life in another time. Let your inner child roam.