The Fall

And now for something completely different. Perhaps you remember a very odd but forgettable movie back in 2000 starring the equally forgettable Jennifer Lopez but having some very memorable if macabre imagery.... The Cell? Well, chillins, Tarsem Singh is back at it again with some bigtime backers (David Fincher and Spike Jonze) and locations in 18, count them 18! countries. The Fall is again, odd, but it is anything but forgettable. And neither is it's heroine.

Roy (Lee Pace) and 5 year old Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) find themselves with too much time on their hands while recuperating in a hospital in Los Angeles circa 1915. Both have suffered a grievous fall, she picking oranges and he, the result of a movie stunt gone wrong. But Roy has no wish to live, heartsick from losing his girl to the movie star - and to win Alexandria's help to obtain the drugs to take his own life, he spins her tales of fantasy that she visualizes around the people in the hospital. With a child's innocence, she eventually sees the outcome Roy is seeking.

From the exquisite black and white opening sequence, through every rainbow hued frame of the fantasy story the imagery will leave you breathless. Tarsem repeats images Escher-like, draws shadows from smoke, and captures a child's whimsy in vivid color and painstaking detail. The story weaves jerkily in and out of reality, but Tarsem isn't taking himself too seriously this time. Untaru is mesmerizing (she's 9, unbelievable!)- she'll capture your heart and break it- but it is the sheer beauty of film that will hold you. Website here.