Director: Dave McKean
Starring: Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon
In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.
Director Dave McKean dared to be different with this most unusual film. With visuals unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a film, this certainly was a unique viewing experience. Many viewers might hate the film for being so different, though.
How does one even begin to explain this film? Think of your most fantastical, magical dream. Now give it a bit of a weird edge, and ‘Mirrormask’ would be a visualization of that dream. Truly unique is an under-statement.
But what is the movie about? Well, that’s just as difficult to explain as the visuals. I must admit, this is not always the easiest film to follow. Helena is a young circus performer who works at her family circus. Helena hates performing and during an argument with her mother Joanne, Helena wishes her mother would die. Just before her next performance, Joanne collapses and is hospitalized, and Helena blames herself.
One night she wakes from a dream, and walking down the street encounters three performers. But nothing is ordinary or what it seems anymore and she enters an alternate universe filled with weird and wonderful characters. This world is gradually being taken over by shadows. Being mistaken for a Princess, Helena must find a charm to wake the sleeping White Queen. This might seem like a fairytale, but believe me, this is definitely more nightmare than fairytale!
‘Mirrormask’ is guaranteed to be beyond your wildest imagination as we follow Helena on her quest. The visuals are remarkable and the mind baffles as to how they accomplished this. The film also takes many interesting and unexpected turns. Give it a go; even if just for the visuals.
The film reminded me of films like ‘What dreams may come’ (1998), ‘Imaginaerum’ (2012), and ‘Moon Garden’ (2022).
‘Mirrormask’ won awards for Best Art Direction, Best Make-up, Best Feature Debut, and Best Narrative Feature.
Would I watch it again? Maybe.
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