The dark version of "Alice in Wonderland" that scares you to tears | "Mirror Mask"

Lorena 2022-03-20 09:02:28

In fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland should be bright and peaceful. Freaks like Tim Burton wouldn't dare make it gothic.

"Pan's Labyrinth"

But at the same time, we can see adult fairy tale worlds such as "Pan's Labyrinth" and "The Rising Tide Coast", which are profound and not suitable for children.

"Alice in Wonderland"

In order to let everyone fall from heaven to hell and fall completely, today will be another fantastic and weird dark work——

"Mirror Mask"

MirrorMask

(2005)

This movie, which can be called the dark version of "Alice in Wonderland", can be said to be a big legacy of fantasy films, and no one cares. But it was nominated for the Golden Leopard Award, the highest award at the Locarno International Film Festival. Most of the works at the Locarno Film Festival are rare and weird works in the world.

"Mirror Mask" stills

"Mirror Mask" also has novel ideas. In 2005, when the special effects were still immature, you could see an incredible world in the film: human-faced cats with rainbow wings, and fish parading in the air. Swarms, monsters assembled from irregular objects, eyeballed mechanical spiders...

"Mirror Mask" stills

Such a style of painting is bound to scare the children to tears. This is the world in the painting constructed by "Mirror Mask".

Manuscript of a cat with a human face drawn by the director

The core of the story is almost the same as that of "Alice in Wonderland", but the boundary between the fantasy world and reality constructed by "Mirror Mask" is not so obvious, and it is probably more about the troubles and confusion of teenagers growing up.

"Mirror Mask" stills

The story tells the adventure of a young girl named Helena who strayed into the world in the painting.

Helena grew up in a circus. Like every classmate who entered the rebellious period of youth, Helena was fed up with being a clown all day and grovelling in front of the audience. She had no normal child's life and was kidnapped by her father's circus dream. Want to stay in the room doodling, escape "unreal life".

"Mirror Mask" stills

Unexpectedly, after a dispute with his mother, his mother fell ill unexpectedly, and his father's circus faced a business crisis. Helena was deeply remorseful, but unexpectedly entered the world of the painting. In order to awaken the Queen of Light, who had exactly the same face as her mother, she embarked on a journey...

"Mirror Mask" stills

But in my opinion, Helena's talent for graffiti is truly outstanding. The series of close-ups on the walls covered with paintings and grotesque masks are all foreshadowings for Helena's journey to another world.

"Mirror Mask" stills

The title battle between the Queen of Light and the Queen of Darkness, portraits full of dream scenes, exquisite Venetian opera masks...

"Mirror Mask" stills

The world in the painting is a hazy, dim, grotesque dream.

"Mirror Mask" stills

You can see the talking chicken, the books that will turn into somersaulting clouds if you swear at it, the park full of spiral staircases, and the surreal scenes everywhere, you can't marvel at this incredible imagination.

"Mirror Mask" stills

These abstract figures and surreal scenes are all hand-painted by director David Mackaki.

David McKean David McKean

In addition to being a director , David Mackaki is also a well-known British illustrator, photographer, cartoonist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician .

Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban

Before Mirror Mask, he also served as art director on Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .

Arkham Asylum (1989)

David Mackaki is a master of art crossover. He studied at Berkshire College of Art and Design and worked as an illustrator before he graduated. He wrote a graphic novel for Batman called Arkham Asylum in 1989. Drawing illustrations with unprecedented success.

Black Orchid (1991)

From his early works, we can glimpse his mysterious and magnificent iconic style, and these endless illustrations are used in each of his films.

The Moon (2014)

Including the previous short films and the "Moon" released at the Toronto Film Festival in 2014 , which brought together the original cast of "Mirror Mask", and now that the film technology has become more mature, the strange world in his brain has become easier to express.

The scene manuscript drawn by the director of "Mirror Mask"

Although "Mirror Mask" is his feature film debut , this does not affect the stunning feeling it brings. It is not only a visual spectacle, but also uses props, characters and other designs to connect the conflict issues throughout the film. .

Venetian opera mask in The Phantom of the Opera

Speaking of masks , in reality, Helena's youth was always wearing a mask on the stage of the circus. She always wanted to take off the mask, but in the dream, everyone except Helena was wearing a mask. mask.

"Mirror Mask" stills

The troubles of growing up also started from the comparison of various settings. At first, the scene of the mother-daughter quarrel was split in half, with a thick wall in the middle, indicating that the tension and estrangement in the relationship between the two would be difficult to resolve.

"Mirror Mask" Queen of Light

In the dream, the Queen of Light and the Queen of Darkness confront each other, both of which are played by Helena's mother, representing the two sides of her mother.

"Mirror Mask" Dark Queen

The Queen of Light is a gentle and caring mother, and the Queen of Darkness is a mother with a strong desire to control, to the extent that everything "takes orders from me".

"Mirror Mask" stills

Helena's travels are actually facing up to her relationship with her parents. Whenever she looks out the window, she can see another self-rebellious appearance in reality, yelling at her father for no reason, falling in love early, stealing things from home, punk Non-mainstream dress, advocating freedom and wanton behavior.

"Mirror Mask" stills

But she was never really independent, and when she realized that, she grew.

If it wasn't for her mother being sick in bed, she might never reflect on her own problems. How many people do not regret after the incident as Helena does when they recall the memories of the rebellious period as adults.

"Mirror Mask" stills

The softness in our heart always comes too late, and we lose the best opportunity to shake hands with our family. But your family will always understand you and give you the greatest warmth.

But maybe, it's not too late? Send a letter to your family, whether you are busy or not.

message interaction

Simply send some blessings to your family and express your affection~

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Extended Reading

Mirrormask quotes

  • Black Queen: You need a pretty frock and a happy smile.

    Helena: A smile?

    Black Queen: With a smile on your face everything will seem brighter because from now on we are... what?

    Helena: I don't know.

    Black Queen: Tell her.

    Black Queen's Guard: Uh, not at home to Mr. Grumpy, your majesty.

    Black Queen: Exactly.

  • Helena: [during opening credits, playing with sock puppets] Ha! You may think I'm a hardhearted black sock, but underneath this dark woolly exterior is a naked pink foot.

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