My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de courgette) (2017)
94%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
My Life as a Zucchini’s silly title and adorable characters belie a sober story whose colorful visuals delight the senses even as it braves dark emotional depths.
My Life as a Zucchini is a claymation masterpiece that will make you laugh, cry, and want to hug every zucchini you see. The characters are so intricately crafted that you forget they’re not real children, and their stories of resilience and survival will touch your heart. It’s a film that tackles heavy subjects with delicacy and compassion, and it’s impossible not to be moved by it. Plus, who knew zucchinis could be so darn cute?
Production Company(ies)
Rita Productions, Blue Spirit Animation Gébéka Films,
Distributor
GKIDS
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Rhône-Alpes Studios, Lyon, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and suggestive material
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 6m
-
Language(s):French
-
Country of origin:France, Switzerland
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2017
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Nick Offerman, starring Elliot Page, starring Will Forte, starring Amy Sedaris, directed by Claude Barras, written by Céline Sciamma, produced by Marc Bonny, produced by Armelle Glorennec, produced by Pauline Gygax, produced by Max Karli, produced by Kateryna Merkt, produced by Michel Merkt, comedy, drama, animation, PG-13, box office gross, critic reviews, reviewed by Elissa Suh, reviewed by Michael Sragow, reviewed by Donald Clarke, reviewed by Hannah McGill, reviewed by Robbie Collin, reviewed by Mark Kermode, reviewed by Leigh Monson, reviewed by Lynden Barber, reviewed by Steven Prokopy, reviewed by Charlotte Harrison, reviewed by Katie Smith-Wong, reviewed by Leslie Combemale, audience reviews, French language, stop-motion animation, orphan, foster home, police officer, friendship, abandonment, mental toughness, emotional depths, colorful visuals, dark themes, poignant charm, heartwarming tale, Oscar nomination, Best Animated Feature Film, sweet, tender, expressive characters, lovely animation
Worldwide gross: $5,873,157
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,084,414
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,070
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 772,564
US/Canada gross: $309,766
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $373,651
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,404
US/Canada opening weekend: $31,853
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $38,422
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,279
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 6500000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,840,534
Production budget ranking: 1,759
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,222,128
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$4,978,248
ROI to date (est.): -41%
ROI ranking: 1,631
Nick Offerman – Raymond – Voice
Elliot Page – Rosy – Voice
Amy Sedaris – Aunt Ida – Voice
Clara Young – Alice – Voice
Erick Abbate – Courgette – Voice
Director(s)
Claude Barras
Writer(s)
Céline Sciamma
Producer(s)
Marc Bonny, Armelle Glorennec, Pauline Gygax, Max Karli, Kateryna Merkt, Michel Merkt
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (137) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (135) | Rotten (2)
With red frosted noses, sleepy bobble eyes, and oversize, oblong heads, the stop-motion munchkins of My Life as a Zucchini are figures approached with curious affection.
March 13, 2020
Elissa Suh
StageBuddy.com
TOP CRITIC
My Life as a Zucchini has grace and charm, but what breaks your heart is its mental toughness.
March 8, 2018
Michael Sragow
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The film is a beautifully balanced visual marvel.
June 13, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The upfront acknowledgement in My Life as a Courgette that many childhoods play out with nary a hint of magic, sparkle or sugar to help the medicine go down feels unorthodox and bracing.
June 5, 2017
Hannah McGill
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
This isn’t just good writing, it’s humane and honourable. Every child here feels like a real human being, and as such is accorded a dignity the world invariably hasn’t extended to them in their lives to date.
June 5, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Barras succeeds brilliantly in his stated ambition to “make a film about children that speaks to them about abuse and its remedies in today’s world”.
June 4, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
My Life as a Zucchini is a modern classic in its own right, a touching examination of the struggles of youth in extreme circumstances.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Leigh Monson
Substream Magazine
….an utterly charming French claymation…
May 22, 2020
Lynden Barber
Limelight
Zucchini dares to take on some fairly heavy subjects… but it does so with delicacy and compassion, showing the survival skills and resiliency of these expressive and intricately crafted characters. It’s an exceptionally heartfelt offering.
May 5, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
As devastating as the film can be, it is also sublimely joyous.
January 27, 2020
Charlotte Harrison
VultureHound
Beautifully animated and incredibly sweet, it is an entertaining feature debut from [Claude] Barras.
November 13, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast
A beautiful, poignant, exquisite gift of a film.
October 21, 2019 | Rating: A
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren…
Plot
A police officer and new friends help an orphan adjust to life at a foster home in the animated film “My Life as a Zucchini.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features the voice talents of Nick Offerman, Will Forte, and Elliot Page.
Claude-Barras.jpg
