Hugo 2011

In the City of Light in 1931, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield), a 12-year-old boy with an insatiable curiosity, finds himself alone and adrift after his widowed father’s tragic demise. The master clockmaker had been consumed by passion for the cinematic artistry of Georges Méliès, whose films brought magic to the silver screen. As Hugo navigates the aftermath of his father’s untimely passing, he is taken in by his uncle Claude (), a skilled watchmaker who is more interested in the bottle than the clockwork mechanisms that govern his life. After his uncle disappears into the ether, Hugo finds himself living precariously between the walls of the Gare Montparnasse, a Parisian railway station where time stands still.

As he learns to maintain the clocks and survive by any means necessary, Hugo becomes fixated on completing his father’s most ambitious project: repairing a broken automaton, a mechanical man imbued with an air of mystery. Convinced that this intricate device holds a message from beyond the grave, Hugo embarks on a perilous quest to restore it to its former glory, scouring the station for the necessary parts and facing numerous setbacks along the way.

When his nocturnal activities are discovered by Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley), a toy maker with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the art of illusion, Hugo is confronted about his thieving ways. The toy shop owner sets a trap for the young boy, using a toy mouse to ensnare him, and seizes Hugo’s notebook, a treasured repository of notes and sketches detailing his plans for the automaton. Hugo pleads for the return of his precious notebook, but Méliès is unmoved, instead calling him a thief and chasing him down with the Train Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen), a gendarme with a limp and an equally unsteady temper, accompanied by his loyal hound dog.

In a bid to recover his stolen property, Hugo follows Méliès back to his modest home, where he encounters the kind-hearted Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz), the toy maker’s goddaughter. She takes pity on him and promises to help him reclaim his notebook, convincing him that the best course of action is to return home and regroup before launching a new attack on Méliès’ shop.

As Hugo settles into his new role as Méliès’ apprentice, he works tirelessly to earn back his notebook by completing tasks and making repairs in the toy shop. Meanwhile, he manages to fix the automaton, but its heart-shaped key remains elusive, leaving him with more questions than answers about his father’s mysterious project.

As Hugo (Asa Butterfield) initiates Isabelle into the enchanting world of cinema, she in turn introduces him to the mystical realm of books. Their chance encounters lead them on a winding path of discovery, as they sneak into a silent film screening without purchasing tickets and stumble upon a dusty bookstore where its proprietor, initially wary of Hugo’s intentions, slowly warms up to their curiosity. Initially hesitant to trust Isabelle, Hugo is eventually won over by her kindness and resourcefulness, particularly when she reveals herself to be the key holder for the enigmatic automaton.

As they work together to unlock the automaton’s secrets, it spits out a captivating drawing of a film scene that sends Hugo on a nostalgic journey. He is transported back in time to remember his father’s tales about the very same film: Een avontuur bij de maan (1902). With this newfound connection, they set out to unravel the mystery surrounding Isabelle’s godfather, Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley), and their investigation leads them straight into the heart of his mysterious world.

As they arrive at the Méliès residence, Hugo presents Jeanne (Helen McCrory), Georges’ wife, with the automaton’s drawing. However, she remains tight-lipped, forcing them to take refuge in a secret room when Georges returns home. In this unexpected hiding spot, Isabelle and Hugo stumble upon a hidden cabinet containing pictures and storyboards of Georges’ cinematic masterpieces, which they accidentally release just as Georges and Jeanne enter the room. The resulting atmosphere is heavy with betrayal and despair.

In a surprising turn of events, Hugo forms an unlikely bond with the bookstore owner, who helps them track down a rare book on the history of film. As they delve into its pages, they are shocked to discover that Georges Méliès is reportedly deceased, having perished in the Great War (World War I). However, their curiosity is piqued when Rene Tabard (Michael Stuhlbarg), the author of the book, appears before them. The children reveal their astonishing discovery: Georges Méliès is alive! As it turns out, Monsieur Tabard is a devoted fan of Méliès’ films, still possessing a cherished copy of Voyage to the Moon.

As Hugo, Isabelle, and Tabard venture into Georges’ humble abode, they are initially met with hesitation by Jeanne, who politely requests their departure before her husband awakens. However, the trio’s persistence is rewarded when it becomes apparent that she was once one of the actresses in Georges’ cinematic endeavors. As they gather around to screen Voyage to the Moon, the film that bears witness to Georges’ innovative genius and artistic passion, the atmosphere transforms from one of caution to one of nostalgia.

As the movie unfolds, Georges himself appears, sharing tales of his creative journey, the pioneering spirit behind his special effects, and the disillusionment that set in when World War I shattered the world. The once-thriving filmmaker’s fortunes took a drastic turn as he was forced to liquidate his assets, selling off his films for the paltry value of their celluloid stock – only to see it melted down into everyday items like buttons and shoe heels. To make ends meet, Georges opened the toy shop, a testament to his indomitable will to create.

Hugo’s fascination with the automaton leads him on a perilous adventure back to the station, where he finds himself cornered by the station inspector and his loyal canine companion. With cunning and quick thinking, Hugo outsmarts his pursuers, scaling the clock tower to claim the automaton before it falls into the wrong hands. Though temporarily trapped, Hugo’s determination ultimately yields a narrow escape as the inspector departs, allowing him to reclaim the automaton. However, their joy is short-lived, as the officer intervenes once more, detaining both Hugo and the automaton.

In a poignant turning point, Georges’ long-lost creations are rediscovered – a staggering 80 films by Méliès have been meticulously restored. As Georges receives his well-deserved tribute, he expresses heartfelt gratitude to Hugo for his unwavering dedication. With his legacy finally recognized, Georges invites the audience to “follow his dreams,” paving the way for Hugo to assume the role of apprentice and Isabelle to embark on her own literary journey.