Will Forte and Ellen Page Lend Their Voices to ‘My Life As a Zucchini’ Trailer
Foreign films have historically done pretty well in the Best Animated Feature category at the Academy Awards, with at least one import usually squeezing into the nominations alongside the latest pictures from Disney or Pixar. Last year included Brazil’s Boy and the World as well as Japan’s When Marnie Was There, and while the likes of Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, Finding Dory and Zootopia have all but sewn up their nominations for the 2017 ceremony (check back on the 24th to find out!), that leaves room for one wild card. It could be The Red Turtle, the latest animated film with a Studio Ghibli pedigree, or it could be a poignant and sweet little Swiss picture My Life as a Zucchini.
Today brings the first trailer for the French-language film’s English-language dub, debuting at Sundance this week before it comes to U.S. theaters on February 24. The film focuses on a young boy left alone by his alcoholic mother’s premature death, re-naming himself Zucchini when he arrives at an orphanage. As the new kid, he’s subject to some bullying at first, but soon develops a bond with one of the other children that may give his life new meaning. The emotional story tracks Zucchini’s quest to find a new family that he can call his own, so don’t forget your hankies.
Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Ellen Page, and Amy Sedaris all lend their distinctive voices to the English dub. And even if the Oscars don’t render it essential viewing for those who like to catch up with all the nominees, it certainly still looks worth investigating. Kids, adults — everybody loves stop-motion.