To Be Young, In Love and Struck By Lightening

This is the follow up to Wes Anderson night, this is Moonrise Kingdom.

Most of you must know that I have talking about this film and the director for quite some time and that I was VERY excited to see it. It was beyond brilliant.

The story goes like this; it is the summer of 1965 and on the fictitious New England island of New Penzance two twelve year olds runaway. Suzy is from a family who live on the island, parents both lawyers (Frances McDormand & Bill Murray) and three younger brothers. She is in love with Sam who is an orphan Khaki Scout. They have been writing to each other for a year and plan to runaway together. When it is discovered that they have runaway, Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton) is quick to call the only policeman on the island, Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis) to start the search.


There are other little bits if stories that intertwine but if I told them all it would spoil the film.

The film was brilliant. Having seen/read a few interviews with Wes Anderson before the film it was great to know how he cast the two young leads, Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. For both of them this is their first acting role and were both picked out from schools. In other reviews the writer has tried to simplify them both by calling the character Sam, a geek (just because he wears glasses) and Suzy, a young IT Girl, compared to Kristen Steward. This is all wrong, both characters are strange and at times violent, in their own way and it seems sad to give them labels which most definitely don't fit. 

It was also great to see Edward Norton and Bruce Willis playing against type. It was, as always, great casting. These actors can do Wes Anderson humour, and they can play slightly pathetic and wounded very well. The costumes of course helped, Norton in school boy shorts and knee socks, Willis is short legged trousers and greyish hair, they created characters that were essential to the film, although I may be a tad biast (Norton is one of my favourite actors).

The look of Anderson's films are so distinct this film is not exception. Each frame was like a beautiful photography I wanted to put on my wall. The colours were so vibrant, every shot was a master piece that needed attention. I particularly enjoyed the scenes on the woods and beach where the young lovers set up camp. (For other delicious shots, look on my other Wes Anderson posts)


All the quirks are in there too; slow motion scenes, quick pans, issues with white middle class people, family issues, use of inserts and super soundtrack.

A fantastic story with a satisfying end. It was close to having a disappointing one but it switched right at the end, after all, young love can't always be doomed, that's just dull. It's all about the adventure.


I saw it at Curzon Soho cinema and they had decorated the bar and area downstairs in the film's theme. There was fire wood and camp lanterns placed everywhere, with Scout flags and things too. There were also displays of stills and posters of the film. I tried to capture a few but the lighting wasn't great plus I only had my phone with me.

I will be seeing it again.