The Sweetest Film Story of the Year

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Darren

It’s a news story that’s got a fair bit of coverage all over the shop, but I thought I’d simply put it up here.

Pixar got a phonecall from the family of ten year old Colby Curtin, a child dying of cancer. Colby was a huge fan of the studio’s work to date, and had told her mother that she’d hang on in to see their latest film, Up. The family had planned to take her to the cinema, but she took a turn for the worse before the release. Apparently the family didn’t even know anyone at the company, they’d just made the call when it became clear Colby would not be able to see the film in cinemas. Pixar sent out the film to her house for a private screening. Apparently Colby was impressed with the result. Having seen the movie, she died later that night.

A still from Pixar's Up

It’s easy sometimes to forget how powerful images and films can be, and how they can inspire certain people. It’s fun to mock and deride some of the lesser works produced week-in and week-out, but we should always remember that images have the power to lift us and transform us, and that truly amazing ones can take us on a journey without leaving our seat. That’s the reason why the medium means so much to me personally, and why I run this blog.

Well done to Pixar. There’s really not too much more to say.