“If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from when you go to sleep at night, just look around. This is where they are made.”
In the book, Tabard recalls filmmaker Georges Melies uttering this assertion to him during his childhood in regard to his works. Akin to Hugo, Tabard met Georges as a little boy and indeed grasps the magic of film through his older brother working for the director. The majority of the novel is about expressing the beauty and magic of filmmaking, consequently how the films go on to inspire others even years later. The assertion accentuates the essence of what filmmakers such as Melies intended to achieve with their works. Furthermore, the book captures this spirit by showcasing the work as a picture book with dreamlike pictorials.
“So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.”
Hugo as a young boy who seeks a sense of belonging in society he harbors this belief in destiny and purpose. Once he figures out that the famous filmmaker Georges is still alive, he is determined to reveal and reincarnate his works. Both connected by an automaton toy, they end up fulfilling each other’s desires. Hugo seeks a family and finds it in Isabelle and her godfather Georges, as he becomes his caretaker. Moreover, Georges reignites his passion for films and filmmaking. Thus, as the statement alludes the narrative is about purpose and destiny.
