From the Jim Henson Co. comes this trippy family fantasy where a teenage girl must uncover the secrets of a dream world before her dark side takes her place in the real world.
Helena (Stephanie Leonidas, YES) is a juggler in her family’s circus, but not by choice rather obligation. When her mother (Gina McKee, NOTTING HILL) falls ill, Helena regrets a wish she made that her mother would die. The illness spurs Helena’s father (Rob Brydon, TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK AND BULL STORY) to make the tough decision to close down the circus. The night before Helena’s mother’s operation, Helena is transported into a dream world made up of her elaborate drawings.
In the dream world, blob-like shadows are devouring the City of Light. The Princess of Darkness, who looks just like Helena, has run away throwing the whole realm into chaos. The Queen of Light, who looks just like Helena’s mother, has fallen into a deep sleep and the Queen of Darkness, who also looks like Helena’s mother, is sending out the shadows in an effort to force the Princess back home. As Helena begins to piece together the puzzle, she learns that only the mysterious Mirror Mask can awaken the Queen of Light, so she sets out to find it with the help of the shifty juggler Valentine (Jason Barry, TITANIC).
The film was directed by artist Dave McKean, who also wrote the screenplay with Neil Gaiman. The story is fairly simple once you figure it out. The City of Light and City of Darkness represent the good and dark sides of our personalities respectively. Helena’s resentments toward being forced to perform in the circus and her mother’s illness threaten to have her dark side take over. She must find balance in her life and that’s what its all about.
For practical reasons, the film is just a showcase for McKean’s art. His unusual designs create a rich fantasy landscape. Mythic animals with human faces and humans wearing elaborate masks, often with small hollow eyes, populate the tale, creating an enchanting and eerie environment. The base story is nothing original. But in the way it is told within the fantasy realm, the film creates a truly original experience.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
