Although nothing can really beat the immersive experience of sitting in a dark room watching a great movie on a huge screen, the rise of DVD (and now Blu-Ray) has meant that over the years I've built up a large collection of my favourite films. I've got pretty wide-ranging tastes so it's a varied line up.
Now I'm as partial to a good Hollywood blockbuster as the next man, but everyone and their uncle reviews those films - and I really want to use this slot to talk about the ones that (maybe) got away. Those under-rated or lesser known films that don't make a billion dollars and have huge hype machines. These are the films that I love even if no one else does.
To start with I'm going to look at the 2004 film "Strings".
At its core, Strings is a dark fairy tale fantasy. I suppose it's closest comparison would be The Dark Crystal, but only in that they both use different types of puppets. The big difference is that the characters in Strings *know* they are puppets.
The fact that they are marionettes - with their millions of eponymous strings stretching to an unseen higher power in the sky - is key to the whole existence and development of their world and the interaction of the characters. The strings give them life. Children are born by being carved from wood but are not alive until a new set of strings descend from the heavens to be attached to their bodies.
Life is not without risk though - the puppets can be injured. Cut one string and they lose the use of that limb. Body parts can be replaced but it requires using healthy limbs from another individual. However, cut the "head string" and they die. Permanently.
What amazes me most about this film is the care and thought that went into the design of every part of this truly unusual world. Buildings have no ceilings - of course. You want to stop your characters leaving the city or put them in prison? Just create a barrier that blocks or traps their strings. Characters getting too "intimate" can cause their strings to become entangled. Sword-fights centre on cutting the other character's strings. Obvious really, but so, so clever. The imagination, creativity and technical skill here is just incredible.
The film is also visually stunning. Everything was created for real. There is no CGI, just beautifully designed puppets, sets and backdrops - plus effective lighting and practical effects.
Admittedly, the core story is not the most original. A prince goes on a quest to avenge his father's death. While disguised as one of the enemy he meets and falls in love with the a female warrior. There is an evil uncle, a plot to steal the throne, a dark secret and a father's dying wish. It sounds like a million other fairy tales and fantasy novels by way of Shakespearean tragedy. But underpinning it is a theme of free will and the existence of God. Who is the puppet and who is the puppeteer?
Although a predominantly Nordic production with a Danish director, the film boasts an excellent English voice cast - James McAvoy, Julian Glover, Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond are just a few.
It's not a film for everyone - I don't think it's really suitable for young children for example - but in a world of endless reboots and sequels, it's fantastic to come across something so utterly unique.
You can watch the trailer for Strings here.
No comments:
Post a Comment