I have recently become a fan of Glover's work and it was a pleasant find when I stumbled upon this gem. Impressed by the ability to tell a story in the "this is America" music video, I wasn't surprised that some familiar names were involved in both projects.
The most precious thing in "Guava island" has to be the visuals. Truly stunning from the animation to the use of colors. Also, I enjoyed how the music was incorporated. It didn't feel forced to me and it helped to build Glover's character as a person who is internally happy and ready to spread the joy.
There is a lot of talk surrounding what "Guava Island" is - full-lenght movie, short film or visuals for Childish Gambino's music, but let me tell you that there is no definitive answer. However, there is no need for one, anyways. This project is simply telling us a short story, a segment of a bigger imaginary picture which bears relemblance to our society.
Another review here mentioned that there were all of the components for a teary-eyed audience, but i personally didn't feel like it was expected of me to cry. This movie's aim was to convey the sense of how it feels to be around other people who are free when together, people who are able to forget about the hardship of everyday life for a minute of true joy. The villain believed that if there is no instigator, the expression of internal liberty would simply cease, but he is proved wrong, as grief is what brought people even closer. I didn't bond very well with the main characters, but that's okay, because I still got something to take from them - their story made me rethink my place in my society, which is less dystopian or isn't it?
Review of Guava Island
