This month Verve’s star teen reviewer Lucy Kennedy looks at the new offering of short films from Wes Anderson.
When I was informed that four new Wes Anderson short films were out on Netflix, I just about imploded with excitement. When I found out that they were adaptations of Roald Dahl short stories, I did implode with excitement. I am a slightly obsessive Wes Anderson fan. I love his films for their fantastically compelling and wholly distinctive style, for their hilarious and eloquent writing, and for their use of vintage design in both set and costumes.
The stories that have been transformed into short films are as follows:
The Rat Man The audience looks on as a zoomorphic rat catcher endeavours to extinguish the rat population in a small town. This was captivating, and involved a dash of stop motion, an unexpected twist and just the right amount of meticulous Andersonian goodness.
Poison A man arrives home to find his friend frozen in place, the deadly Indian Krait snake resting on his stomach. If he moves an inch, the snake will bite him and he will perish. This short film is rife with tension, at times I realised I was actually holding my breath in suspense.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar The longest of the four, this short film possesses ornate scenes that are a treat to look at. Set pieces are wheeled in and out of frame as if you are watching an incredibly well choreographed play. This film follows the greedy and terribly rich Henry Sugar who embarks on a spiritual journey after reading a puzzling medical account of a man who can see with his eyes shut.
The Swan A precocious young boy is relentlessly pursued by idiotic bullies resulting in the murder of a great white swan. This is my favourite of the four films. It is dreamlike, strange and beautiful, akin to being in somebody else’s imagination.
5/5 stars
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