This is to continue the dive back into nostalgia with the movie-of-the-month-column – so let me start this introduction differently:
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, when children still played with toys and did not watch YouTube videos about Minecraft our story takes place. Sorry, maybe children still do play with toys – I’m not sure – this is more of a comment on how there has been a shift in trends and how kids nowadays are more and more addicted to media and content creators.
Anyway, The Indian in the cupboard is a 1995 fantasy movie directed by Frank Oz. The plot revolves around a young kid who discovers a magical cupboard which can literarily bring toys to life. It is a tale about understanding the importance of respecting life and otherness. It may also very well be described as the visual representation of what scenarios can be imagined by the minds of children when they are playing with toys. In other words, it is a movie made for the imagination; it is, in a way, a tale of growth that is based on the morals of humanity and how to properly treat others.
I have little more to add because it is a movie that has its importance if you have watched it at the proper moment, with the eyes of a child, no more no less. Just, whatever you do, don’t think too much about the ontological implications of toys coming to life and whether they have a soul, a conscious and what would happen if they would be reanimated while being broken. Also, don’t think about the fact that the toys seem to be living their depicted lives when they are in their toy form and what that entails; as I said, better left for a the eyes of a child.
I would give this movie a 6 out of 10 “Truly wonderful the mind of a child is”.