For Here or to Go?

Unfortunately many men think the term "subtitles" is translated from a four-letter word. As a result they are missing out on one of the most ingenious science fiction movies ever produced.

Originally I had seen The City of Lost Children in the theater. When I fell in love with it and heard it was the second work by the directors, naturally I hunted down the first. Initially the descriptions had me wary. A future time where meat is altogether gone, a building who's landlord also happened to be a butcher in better times, and the ritual hiring and disappearance of maintenance men in said building. Yes, that's right, cannibalism. Sounded too much like the work of some militant vegetarians.

Once viewed though it's amusing, enchanting, with a an almost fairy tale quality. The maintenance man du jour happens to be an ex-circus-clown, and the choreography of his stunts is unbelievable. It is a tossed salad of gruesome ideas with comedic style, with lighting and cinematography to draw out the bizarre settings and facial expressions. There are also several subplots including, yes a love story, some underground militant vegetarians (hmm, perhaps they were involved in the concept) and a sadistic mailman.

This movie may require more than one watching to get the whole effect however, since small details abound and looking down at the subtitles may be distracting. Also not suitable for the extremely weak of stomach, although most of the disturbing content is in the suggestion not the actually viewing (eg -- you do not see anyone being chopped up). Definitely different. Definitely entertaining.