[Lee Jong-gil's Movie Reading] 'Luca' as an Asset for Survival Beyond Ancestors~

Director Enrico Casarosa's Animation 'Luca'
Reflecting on Myself Trapped by Conventions and Norms Through the Sea Monster Adventure

Living organisms have evolved by branching out like tree limbs. Eukarya emerged about 1.9 billion years ago. It is believed to have appeared through the evolution of Archaea. Since the first life appeared about 4 billion years ago, this event occurred much later. In the early history of life, Eubacteria also existed. Their common ancestor is the first life form and the progenitor of all living beings currently on Earth. This ancestor is called Luca.

Enrico Casarosa’s animated film Luca is an adventure that recalls childhood. It seems unrelated to the starting point of biological diversification. However, Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) looks unusual. He swims gracefully underwater with a fish tail and light green scales. When he bravely comes out of the water, he transforms into a human. He is a mysterious creature that becomes a “sea monster” whenever he touches water.

Luca refuses to stay only underwater. He transforms into a human to experience a new world. It is not simply to experience the beach town. He is curious even about the rings of Saturn beyond the sky in the solar system. His human friend Julia (voiced by Emma Berman) shows him through a telescope and tells him it is not a dream. “Why do you always think you can’t do everything? You just have to try once.”

Luca’s friend Alberto (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer) is also enterprising. But having lost his parents and lived alone, he settles in the beach town to soothe his loneliness. This feeling is shown in a scene where he rides a motorcycle made of scrap metal and junk, soaring into the sky. When Luca checks the steep slope and feels afraid, Alberto says, “I know your problem. Bruno is in your head.” “Bruno?” “Repeat after me. Shut up, Bruno!” “Shut up, Bruno.” “Louder, shut up, Bruno!” “Shut up, Bruno!” “Do you still hear his voice?” “No, I only hear your voice!”

Alberto’s lines are ambiguous. They seem to encourage courage while also acknowledging the limits of ability. Bruno is a common male name in Italy. It can be said that Alberto is cheering on Luca and many others. However, the most famous Bruno, Giordano Bruno (1548?1600), was a natural philosopher who longed for freedom of thought. He argued that the universe consists of many worlds similar to the solar system. He also insisted that the Bible should be followed for its moral teachings, not for astronomical implications. He was a martyr of free thought pointing even to modern humanistic activism. Like him, Luca breaks away from conventions and norms to challenge new knowledge.

Until a few decades ago, it was commonly believed that fish evolved legs in the process of moving onto land. The simple logic was that tetrapods needed legs to move on land. Their use is not limited to one function. The fish called sinbengi, nicknamed “frogfish” because it resembles a frog, has fins rather than legs. It uses them like legs to walk on the seabed.

There are quite a few aquatic creatures that have legs. Among shrimp, some species never come onto land but still have legs. The Japanese giant salamander also rarely leaves the water but has impressive legs. They are useful in many ways underwater. For example, if they live in shallow rapids, they can push aside fallen branches. When the current is strong, they can hold onto rocks. When not in a hurry, walking on the seabed might be much easier than swimming.

All living beings cannot lead change under intention and purpose. That does not make us less noble beings. On the contrary, it gives us room for deeper self-reflection. Through Luca, who even takes action, the people of the beach town change. At first, they call him a “sea monster” and try to kill him, but gradually they open their hearts. Evolutionary biologists have long recognized mutations not as errors or defects but as the true essence of life activity. Without mutations suited to change, humanity would have already perished. Luca is indeed a precious asset that guarantees our survival.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.