Summa This, Summa That
This isn't really a confirmation of the SPU theory; more of a "we have a ton of time on our hands because ANIMATION IS INCREDIBLY TIME-CONSUMING, so we're constantly coming up with these kinds of Easter Eggs and putting them in our huge blockbusters." ...But even though it's not an actual "confirmation" of the Unified Pixar Universe, it's still awesome.
It's an unusual film structurally, with almost no story (or even much in the way of themes) holding it together. Every now and again, a single thread can be identified between a series of mostly-disparate images, and there are a couple of different stories that keep coming to the fore. But for the most part, they come off as beautiful, self-contained (and mostly unrelated) visual snippets. There is something holding them together, of course: Johnson herself.
It's a tough film to get through, but it's pretty much perfect for today. A real reminder both of our own, numerous blessings, and of human nature's astonishing ability to rise above adversity. (That's what might make it particularly helpful for those of us inclined to be excessively pessimistic about what today's ceremony may portend. A little perspective never hurts.)
This one ends up being significantly darker than Cubes, and almost more of a warning than a meditation. The importance of our memories as fundamental and irreplaceable building blocks of our humanity comes through loud-and-clear, though. Some memories are not worth giving up, no matter the alternative.
"Over the past couple of months, the skies over Iceland have been electrified with the absolutely astonishing beauty of the Northern Lights, leading many a photographer to brave the chilly air in order to capture some of that beauty for themselves. The city of Reykjavik further encouraged photos by encouraging that lights be turned off in the entire city."
