Context: The first paper of my film focus project, I was given an opportunity to write about a favorite film. Having agreed not to write about The Incredibles for the 20th time (Thanks Professor ;-; ), I wrote about the comparisons made of Ratatouille to Immigration. Listen, I know this sounds weird but hear me out on this one, I actually really like where I was going with this one, enjoy.
Imagine the process an immigrant may face when leaving the country for the first time. Those who are allowed to go through the legal process of integrating with their new country find an overall easier transition compared to those who may have to travel illegally due to many factors such as war and corruption. Ratatouille sees Remy as an immigrant who illegally travels to escape the persecution of the elder running the home his clan used as their living space. His transition in the sewer plays out in Stages 3 and 4 of the immigration process as he departs from his home and faces the transit going to the new country.
The Scene plays out during a sequence where an older lady is aiming a shotgun at Remy's family but misses her shot as the sewer entrance provides cover for their boats. The composition changes to a long shot of Remy's “book boat” and his collection of a spatula that gets shot by the elderly lady. With this tool, Remy is seen worried and adapts using the spatula as a rowing device to get into the sewer. The composition changes to show the elder lady reading her shot to shoot Remy but loses her chance as Remy enters the sewer finally. Inside the sewer, Remy tries to catch up to his family, even saying “Guys wait, stop!” as he frantically rows in the direction of his family. The shot then changes to show him looking at a water shower that blocks his view of his family as he hears his father call for his name and suddenly the screams of his family fade into the distance. He calls out his father to no response, he is alone in the sewer. He gets showered by the water shower he passes as he sees two pipes in front of him. “Which way?” He exclaims as he chooses the left pipe. The composition changes to a medium shot as he shows expressions that he may have chosen the wrong path as he hears a waterfall coming towards him. Unable to get out, he falls out of the boat as he free falls down a waterfall at the end of the sewer river he was gliding through. He falls through the water, unable to breathe. He emerges to the surface of the water only to be beaten back into the depth of the currents. A first-person view sees him blasted in the face against the currents for a second time as he hurls inside the currents. He comes in and out of the water gasping for air until he catches up with his boat and the water eases and transitions to him sitting at the edge of the sewers, reading the book that saved his life.
I believe this scene is read as the difficulties immigrants face during stage 3 of immigration: Departure. There have been many accounts where immigrants flee from gangs and corrupt governments as they find transit to escape to another country. Those without the means to go to their new country legally often find adapted ways to get there. While some cross oceans in smaller boats, others are smuggled by mules and those who risk their lives for these immigrants at an inflated price. It’s argued Remy had to use a boat to escape the reign the elder lady had, given that the rat clan was shown earlier in the movie to live in her attic. This plays into Stage 4 of the process of immigration: Transit to the new country. We see Remy lose contact with his family via the distance their voices and nonvisible presence bring to the scene. Hearing their screams can be compared to the isolation of an immigrant they could face during their travel to the new country. Comparing this to Jewish migrants during WWII, accounts of such can be found by survivors who fled to America where they will either reunite with their families or unfortunately lose them forever due to discovery. As Remy is alone, he is given no guidance on how to get to the new country and chooses a random pipe to get there, unknowing that he chose the most violent path he could have taken to get there. The rapids could indicate trials and tribulations that nearly kill him as he journeys the sewer to a new location, it's only by the end of these currents that Remy finds a platform to stand on, a cookbook that he appreciates and takes influence to learn how to cook. His passion for cooking is seen as what held him afloat during these trials. As the scene ends with him finding calmer waters, he is shown reviewing the book to the side of the water. The audience could see this being his lowest point after the trials have beaten him to give up. Despite this, he still reads the book that motivates him to be a cook.
Evidently, this scene from Ratatouille represents the difficulties an immigrant may face during their departure and transit from their origin country. Through the isolation and uncanny process, Remy can be compared to real immigrants who also had to flee due to factors such as persecution. Similar to these immigrants, his passion for cooking kept him afloat and motivated his journey to continue.
Comments