Hugo (2011)

Creation

Hugo is based on the popular 2007 illustrated children's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. Director Martin Scorsese was encouraged by friends and family to adapt the film, saying it was perfect for him. In an interview with Jon Stewart Scorsese half-jokingly mentioned that his wife had told him to "make something our son can watch for once". There were several false starts on the project before it finally got underway with Scorsese at the helm.

Plot

Hugo Cabret lives in the walls of the bustling Gare Montpanasse train station in 1931 Paris. Amongst the massive shifting gears and levers, it his job is to keep all the clocks in the station running on time, a task passed down to him by his alcoholic uncle who has since vanished to parts unknown.

A mysterious automaton, with several missing parts, is now in the possession of Hugo, passed down from his father. Young Hugo often steals parts from a local toy shoppe owner, and after making acquaintances with him, and good friends with his grand daughter, is set off to uncover a mystery, and go on a unique journey, subsequently helping him and his friends find their perfect place in the world.