Fluorescent snapper!

Director Wes Andersonʼs 2005 masterpiece The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou stands as a testament to the possibility of original, brilliant filmmaking and to lead protagonist Bill Murrayʼs dramatic acting chops. The filmʼs plot centers around naval exploration and the teamʼs cataloguing of fantastic aquatic wildlife, and features some creative and interesting creatures who showcase animatronic special effects unique to the industry. Some of the invented species include fluorescent snapper, which glow pink and travel in schools; the rhinestone bluefin, which, as its name suggests, is covered in glistening blue gems; and the jaguar shark which drives the plot of the film forward in a hunt reminiscent of Moby Dick. While these beautiful and fanciful creatures serve as a backdrop environment to the filmʼs plot line, they also illustrate a theme of the movie that life, despite its numerous hardships and struggles, is constantly interesting, engaging, and wondrous.

Finding and studying these animals has been the passion of Steve Zissou’s life, much like the actual aquatic explorer whose life and work the film pays homage to, Jacque Coustau. Both Zissou and Coustau had teams of marine biologists and explorers who together share adventures on the seas to seek out and investigate these diverse animals. But the animals also represent a great deal to Steve, as his quest to find the jaguar shark which ate his friend parallels his existential crisis and search for purpose. Zissou is confronted with his old age, his failure as a filmmaker and financially, and a great deal of guilt for having denied his son a father figure. Coupled with this self-doubt is his crippling grief for his best friend Estaban, which he hasn’t allowed himself time to fully acknowledge. The climax of the film, at which point Steve takes all of his crew and acquaintances in a submarine to finally witness the jaguar shark, represents his coming to terms with his stake in life. He mourns his friend, he mourns his son and the relationship they never would have, he overcomes his own existential panic and cries, in one beautiful moment, accented by Sigur Rós playing in the background. The meaning of his life becomes clear to him, and the outpouring of support from his family and friends around him is enough to make me cry near every time I’ve seen the film.

The jaguar shark is his metaphysical Moby Dick, and the search for it is his grappling to come to terms with his environment. “I wonder if it remembers me,” Steve intones, at which point the music crescendoes and the waterworks start, for Steve and me alike. The animal is a symbol rather than a character in this scene, a fact highlighted by Steveʼs calling the shark “it,” rather than “he” in the aforementioned quote. After this pivotal moment, pivotal for both the film and Zissou’s life, the character is secure in all of his societal roles. He passes on his late sonʼs Zissou society ring to Verner, crewmate Klausʼs nephew, and utters the best line of the movie, “This is an adventure.” This theme would be impossible without the contribution of our friend the jaguar shark.