There is nothing like a good, wholesome film; the kind you can pop in and watch at anytime, but are perhaps best on a rainy afternoon, when you can curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot cocoa. A film that warms the heart and touches the soul. And one such film is a 1995 Best Picture nominee, Babe – the wonderful tale of a sheep-herding pig who defies the incredible odds stacked against him.
The single shot that encompasses the film happens in the final sequence, shortly before the iconic “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do,” line:
As much as this film is about a sweet-natured pig who just wants to belong, it’s also about his owner – a taciturn man named Arthur Hoggett, played by James Cromwell. The relationship between the two evolves over the course of the narrative, from a standard man/pig dynamic of “owner” and “owned” to an unlikely team working together for a common goal. This shot is the epitome of their bond – after a rousing success at a competition, silencing their naysayers, man and pig stand side by side, basking in the applause. But who garners the most credit? Babe, of course; which is why the shot is centered mainly on him, and only Hoggett’s legs are shown. Babe is our unlikely, curly-tailed hero, the one who deserves the focus. Yet, the framing of the shot still gives the impression that they are a steadfast team.
I mean… just look at that face. Babe is iconic. An absolute legend. If he were a morning, he’d be golden and new. This is one of the few movies I can watch over, and over, and over again and still get emotional. It is just a classic, well-done, and well-made movie, and if you haven’t seen it, you absolutely should.
Frostwritten 