beauty and the beast - the latest (2014) film of the fable
one of 20 options at the french film festival currently running
one rule for me re films at festivals - selection suggests quality
or - step out of the comfort zone - trust other people's judgement
not familiar with this story but the title says it all - a love story
it opens with great use of close-up to get us inside a large book
a mother starts reading the story to her 2 children at bedtime
and then straight into the film - 3 large sailing ships at sea
hit by an unexpected storm and they all sink - all is lost
this has the merchant owner also on the rocks financially
forcing him and his 6 children to leave paris for the country
3 boys and 3 girls - the youngest named belle - the beauty
she loves the country and is similarly adored by her father
on a trip back to paris he gets lost on the return journey
he stumbles on and drawn to a large imposing hilltop castle
inside is laid out a feast which the merchant gorges himself on
then as he makes a hasty escape he picks a beautiful red rose
this incurs the wrath of the beast as it leaps onto the merchant
a life for a rose - or i will kill your entire family - that's the deal
back home he tells his story and belle then volunteers her life
claiming her mother died giving birth to her - she owes the family
and off she goes on horseback - delivering herself up at the castle
it's all quite nerve-wracking - even knowing there's a happy ending
it's just done so well - a sumptuous mix of cgi, animation. reality
and a big budget too - so much detail particularly inside the castle
mr beast shows up - instructions - every night dinner at 7 o'clock
she is free to explore the castle and grounds as much as she wants
but she will never leave - and despite her pleading she will not die
as the days roll by her confidence grows as his hostility also wanes
his hairy arms, hands and face more of a lion than a hideous beast
and he remains dressed in some regal outfit - ah - once a human?
this all further explained in belle's stunning dream sequences
seems the once-prince killed one deer to many - a nymph
the god forest angry and turns the prince into the beast
the spell can be broken by true love (it conquers all)
beasty-boy weakens and allows her 24 hours respite
back to the family but things don't go quite as planned
greedy perducas charges off to the castle to raid the treasure
him and his cronies plunder the place but things then turn ugly
the beast has some friends - huge giants awoken and go to work
crushing and stomping the baddies but the beast cops a golden arrow
he is sure to die - but belle to the rescue - gets him into some magic water
he arouses as a prince - will you ever love me - i love you already - sniff
end of story - book closed - kids happy - but one more little surprise
mum is belle and of course her farmer husband is the prince/beast
a passionate embrace - the end - woo-hoo - a (the) happy ending
totally impressed actually - so well done - weta would be proud
seriously matching it with lord of the rings, the hobbit, etc
foreign language though - so no market here (why not?)
french film festival has served up a cracker - tres bon....
