Soul: A Celebration of Being

As 2020 came to a close, Joe Gardner, Pixar’s first Black lead, hit the screens of over a billion socially-distanced souls. Despite our quarantined state, the film indubitably resonated with us all to a degree, providing a vibrant, hopeful take on the meaning of human existence.

Through Joe’s eyes, we learned how one’s aspiration is not necessarily the apex or purpose of their life, and that the “mundanity” of everyday living deserves the same appreciation as our most vibrant experiences. The notion that one’s sole purpose is merely to exist may not be unique to this film, but the manner in which it’s presented will surely leave an impact on viewers young and old.

Joe Gardner is an aspiring Jazz musician working as a middle school band teacher. Despite the success he’s found with his present career, Joe is unsatisfied--that is, until he gets the gig of a lifetime alongside none other than Dorothea Williams, one of his musical idols. Things seem to be looking up for Joe as he finds himself in the final stretch of achieving his dream, but right before he can cross the finish line, an accident lands him in the afterlife, and then the beforelife (better known as The Great Before). There, he meets a wayward soul named 22, whose own pessimistic perspective on human existence is of direct contrast to Joe’s. His desperation to return to Earth intrigues her, and together, both characters learn what makes life worth living; suffice it to say, it’s far from what they expect. The main takeaway from Soul is that every liminal moment in a person’s life is sacred--it’s a typical “take nothing for granted” message, and yet it’s so much more. These two character foils play off each other in fascinating ways, and each contributes significantly to the other’s newfound perception of life; the movie ends on an optimistic note, and leaves the viewer with something to ponder.

One of Soul’s most profound strengths is its vibrant exhibition of Black culture. While the fantastical Great Before shows us a hypothetical glance into existence’s predecessor, the earthbound side of the film is imbued with cultural beauty and experiences unique to Black Americans, one of which being the iconic barbershop scene. To ensure the authenticity of these elements, Pixar confided in a “cultural trust”: numerous artists and experts who themselves were well-versed in how to execute a racially diverse narrative properly. At Soul’s helm was co-director and screenwriter Kemp Powers, who lent his own insights and talent to the heart of the film. In fact, he was the one to suggest the addition of the aforementioned scene in the barbershop. When interviewed by Slate, he had this to say:

It wasn’t even in the film. I said like, “This guy has to pass through authentically Black spaces and there’s no more authentically Black space than a barbershop.”

The ethereal Before realm is scored with atmospheric and equally vibrant music, and Jazz--Joe’s lifelong passion and spark--permeates Soul’s corporeal side. New York’s gorgeous, diverse backdrop is set fittingly to the spontaneous and romantic compositions of Jon Batiste. His hands were even used as reference for Joe’s own piano playing:

“... my way of playing, my hands: they're an exact replica in the kind of 3D animation. You'll see if you watch the film and then see me playing, it's kind of crazy." (source)

Jamie Foxx, the voice of Joe, is also a Jazz enthusiast, and his own experience with the art has enabled him to better connect with the character. In a broader sense, Joe’s artistic struggle is a sympathetic plight to which all kinds of artists can relate; be one a musician or animator or writer, it’s easy for their greater aspirations to become their primary focus in life, causing them to lose sight of the simpler, tangible pleasantries. I too can personally relate to the artistic struggle that drives this film, and I’m sure many others share my sentiment.

In summary, Soul is as much an exhibition of Black excellence as it is a masterful response to the universal search for the meaning of life. Hopefully its success will pave the way for future representation.