Helena (Leonidas) is a teen growing up in the circus with her juggling parents (McKee and Brydon). When Mum gets seriously ill, she drifts into a the dreamland of her drawings. This becomes a struggle for life, as two opposite worlds contend for her help, and she befriends a masked performer (Barry) to help her find the mirrormask that will wake the sleeping Queen of Light (McKee again) and release her from the clutches of the Queen of Shadows (also McKee).

The main theme is that as we grow up we make good or bad decisions that will impact who we become. Not only is this a rather simplistic, black-and-white worldview, but it also has nothing to do with Helena's dying mother. Which kind of leaves us scratching our head about the point of it all.

What we don't doubt is that the film looks wondrous. From the opening frames, the screen is flooded with shafts of light and colour, artful illustrations, graphical artistry and outrageously animated characters that nicely balance the colourful real circus performers in the opening scenes. It's simply jaw-dropping to look at, constantly surprising us with visual and narrative flights of fantasy. Even if it has little discernible meaning, it's still fascinating and involving.

The direction, design and editing are done with an intricate attention to detail. And the nightmarish dreaminess is truly creepy, with bug-like creatures, invasive blackness, fastidious government-type agents, winged cats with human faces, floating giants and more. There's also such a strong current of humour that it often feels like a comical romp, which makes it consistently engaging and keeps the performances wonderfully grounded. It does sometimes get a bit silly, and the constant nuttiness gets wearing whenever the pace lurches or stalls. But it's so loaded with personality and originality that we can't take our eyes off the screen.

themes, suspense

26.Oct.05 lff