Overview and Background"Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphagy of Rosie Ming" is a Canadian animated feature movie that was released in 2016. The movie was directed by Ann Marie Fleming and includes a host of voice skills, consisting of Ellen Page and Sandra Oh. The story centres on a young Canadian poet, Rosie Ming, who lives in Vancouver and is of Chinese-Persian descent. Rosie has an eager interest in music, French culture, and is a self-published author of a collection of love poems set in Paris.
Plot SummaryRegardless of her dreams and goals, Rosie has actually never been outside Canada. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when she is invited to a poetry celebration in Shiraz, Iran, an invitation she accepts despite her grandpa's appointments. Rosie is entirely out of her convenience zone upon arrival, without any understanding of Persian culture, literature, or language, however she stays undaunted.
In Iran, Rosie starts a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. She becomes part of a community of poets from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds, all of whom share their extensive and poignant stories. Amongst them is Dietmar, a jolly German poet, who informs Rosie about Persian poetry's beauty and depth. She also has fateful encounters with the Iranian poet Mehrnaz and a Chinese poet, Di Di, who share their insights and experiences, guiding her through her journey.
Themes and SymbolismThroughout the movie, Fleming uses animation to symbolise Rosie's inner experiences, figuratively depicting her development and understanding, particularly of her Persian heritage. The visual story of the movie is shaped by a mix of colourful hand-drawn sketches, paper cut-outs and digital adjustments that represent Rosie's emotional and intellectual growth.
One of the movie's most effective styles is that of cultural identity-- the notion of the world as a shared, interconnected space, bound by human sensations and experiences. The diverse array of poets, each with special stories and viewpoints, highlights this theme vividly as they all come together under the umbrella of poetry.
Message and Conclusion"Window Horses" underscores the transformative power of art-- in this case, poetry-- and its capacity to bridge cultures, motivate understanding, and foster human connection. Regardless of the language barrier, Rosie gains a gratitude for Persian poetry, and in turn, a deeper comprehension of her own identity. This profound journey alters her rigidly-formed notions about identity and allows her to accept the fluidity, diversity, and interconnectedness of cultures.
Towards completion of the film, Rosie's encounters lead her to the stunning discovery about her separated daddy, which catalyses a much deeper understanding of herself and her Persian heritage. The movie ends on a note of reconciliation, approval, and love, representing Rosie's newfound maturity and worldview. The movie is, above all, a reflective and psychological journey of self-discovery that underscores the timeless and universal power of art and poetry.
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