Finding Nemo – Lost (Recommendation)

Year: 2003

Directors: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Andrew Stanton, Alexander Gould, William Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Bob Peterson, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Stephen Root, Geoffrey Rush, Barry Humphries, Vicki Lewis, Eric Bana, Joe Ranft

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZdpNglLbt8

 

 

When you’re young, you don’t realise the impact films have on our social and personal growth, meaning the material we are exposed can end up shaping our future outlook on life. Finding Nemo was a film from my childhood that equipped me with motivational catchphrases that have helped me to laugh my way through life’s downfalls.

 

Finding Nemo is about a clown fish called Marlin (Albert Brooks), who is neurotically protective of his son Nemo (Alexander Gould). Due to Nemo’s underdeveloped fin, he sets out to prove himself, but is captured by divers. The devoted father sets out on a quest beyond the reef to save his son, enlisting the help of Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a fish with short term memory loss.

 

Marlin, Nemo, and Dory are the main characters of Finding Nemo, and each have a different lesson to teach us for when we feel alone and lost. Marlin starts the film as an overbearing father, who was so traumatised by his wife’s death, that he was unable to let Nemo or himself truly live. As Marlin delves deeper into the open ocean, he meets individuals and finds himself in situations that who him revaluate his prejudices and view on life; from the sharks-anonymous group chanting “fish are friends, not food”, to his lack of trust in Dory which results in her getting hurt. We are taught to let go of preconceptions and shown that letting go of the reins trusting others opinions can lead to a more fulfilling life.

 

In Nemo we see a sheltered child who has never experienced life away from his father’s watchful eye. When Nemo is taken, he finds himself in a dentist’s fish tank, and is finally given the opportunity to prove to himself that he is capable of more than what his father expects. Having been labelled as a bad swimmer due to his “bad” fin, Nemo is takes with swimming to save himself and the other fish tank residents, teaching us that every setback, negative comment, and flaw is there to challenge us to fight and show all naysayers that they were wrong.

 

Lastly, we have Dory. She has memory loss and no family, yet she remains upbeat and friendly, offering to help Marlin in a heartbeat. Her constant happy attitude reminds us that negativity isn’t productive, whereas a little kindness will be rewarding, both emotionally and practically. Ultimately, Finding Nemo tells us that when things get tough, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”