I was apprehensive about this movie. Art House type movies do have a tendency for pseudo intellectual metaphor and overblown ridiculousness just for the sake of it. And this does have an element of that, some of the dialogue is just random and nonsensical. I initially watched it without sub-titles, and it really didn't lose too much compared to watching it with.
It is a fairly episodic story, as the main character moves through the sanitorium and encounters different scenarios and characters. Some work better than others, and there is a strong sematic theme that runs though the story, such as it is. Some sections go on too long, where nothing much happens, but are worth watching just for the cinematography, which is my favourite thing about the movie.
The sets and wardrobe are just phenomenal, Even if the story doesn't grip, you can just admire the background. The sets have a very surreal/fantastic quality about them. Trees growing inside houses, stark rooms with just a bed in the centre, just very vivid imagery. I wouldn't be surprised if Tim Burton had seen this movie, as a kid. I can understand why several reviewers have alluded to Alice in Wonderland.
It certainly won't be to everyone's taste, can be a bit slow at times, and probably would have benefitted from being around 20-30 minutes shorter than its 2hrs 5mins run time. Bbut for me, it was worth it just for the surreal settings.
It is a fairly episodic story, as the main character moves through the sanitorium and encounters different scenarios and characters. Some work better than others, and there is a strong sematic theme that runs though the story, such as it is. Some sections go on too long, where nothing much happens, but are worth watching just for the cinematography, which is my favourite thing about the movie.
The sets and wardrobe are just phenomenal, Even if the story doesn't grip, you can just admire the background. The sets have a very surreal/fantastic quality about them. Trees growing inside houses, stark rooms with just a bed in the centre, just very vivid imagery. I wouldn't be surprised if Tim Burton had seen this movie, as a kid. I can understand why several reviewers have alluded to Alice in Wonderland.
It certainly won't be to everyone's taste, can be a bit slow at times, and probably would have benefitted from being around 20-30 minutes shorter than its 2hrs 5mins run time. Bbut for me, it was worth it just for the surreal settings.