Review of The Fall (2006) by Brian K — 13 Apr 2013

Tarsem's 'The Fall' is, in short, a masterpiece. It is a clear sign that creativity is still alive and well(though, like Alexander the Great's water supply, quite sparse). Its story is unlike any other, and its locale seem far exotic and unnatural that it's a shock for us to realize that these are all real life locations. There's a particularly magnificent scene in the film where our characters travel to the blue city. The houses and buildings are all painted bright blue. And it was like that before the filmmaker's got there. Come to find out, they filmed in a span of four years in 20 something different countries. The pay off is most efficient.

What is most refreshing about 'The Fall' is the childlike wonder and exaggeration in such an adult story. I would readily show this film to a child, yet it's not a children's film in any way. Sure, the main character is a child, her name is Alexandria(Catinca Untaru) and the visuals are told through her eyes. The verbal story is told to us by Roy(Lee Pace), a twenty-somthing who has become increasingly interested in suicide since becoming paralyzed by a deadly stunt in a silent film(The film takes place around 1915). This form of storytelling is very intriguing. As Roy talks about an Indian chief and his wigwam, the image is of a man from India in his grand palace. Alexandria, you see, thinks Roy is talking about an actual Indian, rather than a native american. That's the genius of the film.

I won't even begin to try to describe to you what the story's about, it's something that must be experienced. I will tell you that it involves Spanish bandits, and vengeful slaves, magical tree spirits, and of course, Charles Darwin and his pet monkey. The visuals are incredibly broad and colorful, with a great exaggeration in special effects(not visual effects, mind you, the film was made entirely without computer effects). There are rooms with staircases that go in everywhich direction, and mountains that look like a "stony-faced priest". It is clear that the cinematography was specifically designed to commentate on the action. Tarsem chooses each shot with precision.

The greatest visual treat is near the end of the film. One of the characters has been shot in the back with so many arrows that when he falls over backwards, the arrows support his weight and we see him lying in midair, dead. Another visual wonder is the 'robot-chicken'-esque way in which we see a surgery. It's almost funny, but quite unique and creative at the same time.

If you have any love for movies or storytelling, I beg you to go out and find this film. It is now available on DVD, so go out and buy it. It is a film that one can never forget. It is a film that reminds us why we watch movies in the first place and what makes movies so special. Its visual diversity and unique storytelling methods are new and inventive, and its wonderfully ingenious score fully engulfs us into these charaters' hearts and minds as both they and we discover the dreadful - or not so dreadful - end to the story.