I am not often the fan of "artsy fartsy" films, but I loved this wonderful animated film. Instead of a typical story, it's almost like a poem come to life--gorgeous and touching in a haunting way.
Before I try to explain the story, let's talk about the art. This film uses several different methods to tell the tale. The characters are stop-motion animated and appear to be made from wax or perhaps some sort of plastic. While they are not the most realistic creations I've seen, they are more than adequate and rather reminiscent of some of the work of fellow Czech, Jirí Trnka. However, what is amazing are the sets and backgrounds. The sets are very, very nice. But the backgrounds--wow! They appear to have perhaps been created using an oil paint on glass technique and look almost like an Impressionist painting come to life. The colors and style are just amazing and serve to create a haunting backdrop for the story.
The film begins with a man looking outside late at night. He sees some sort of angelic woman with a billowy robe or perhaps wings. He's obviously quite taken with the sight of her and leaves his apartment. Sadly, however as he crosses the road to catch her, he's hit by a car. While not killed, he is temporarily blinded and is briefly hospitalized. When he returns, he tries to take care of himself but is frustrated and ultimately terrified...when suddenly, this angelic creature appears to him--calming him and caring for him. There is more to this sweet film than this and it's both romantic and creative. I won't say more, as I don't want to spoil it, but I must say that I really, really got sucked into the story.
It's really amazing what great artists with a real vision can do even without using any words. While not a single word is spoken, it manages to be artful and like a living poem Great stuff that is a must-see for anyone, like me, who loves independent animated films.
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