There’s one in all of us.|Oct. 16, 2009|Germany | United States | Australia|101 Min.|PG
Genre: Drama;Family;Fantasy;Kids;Mystery;Science;Fiction
Description: Maurice Sendak began his career as an illustrator but soon transitioned to writing and illustrating his own books. In 1956, he published his first solo-authored book, *Kenny’s Window*, followed by another project. Originally, this story involved a child escaping to a “land of wild horses” after a tantrum. However, realizing he couldn’t draw horses, Sendak changed them to the ambiguous “Wild Things,” inspired by the Yiddish term “vilde chaya,” meaning wild animals or boisterous children.
The Wild Things were based on caricatures of Sendak’s aunts and uncles, drawn during his childhood to cope with their chaotic weekly visits. He described them as “crazy” with wild eyes, blood-stained eyes, and big yellow teeth, often pinching his cheeks until they turned red. These Jewish immigrants from Poland had lost family during the Holocaust, leaving a deep impact on Sendak’s early life.
The story, *Where the Wild Things Are*, follows Max, a boy who, after misbehaving, is sent to bed without supper. His room transforms into a jungle, and he sails to an island inhabited by the Wild Things. Max becomes their king but eventually feels lonely and returns home, where he finds a hot supper waiting.
In the 1983 opera adaptation of the book, Sendak named the monsters after his relatives: Tzippy, Moishe, Aaron, Emile, and Bernard. The tale, though only 338 words, captivates with its imaginative journey and emotional depth.
Cast director: Spike Jonze
Cast actor: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Lauren Ambrose, Ryan Corr, Spike Jonze, Mark Ruffalo, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper
Original name: Where the Wild Things Are