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In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, in the pediatric wing of a hospital in Los Angeles, the talkative five year-old girl Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is recovering from a broken arm. Alexandria works with her family of immigrants in the harvest of oranges and she has just lost her father. When she meets the injured stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace) recovering from a fall and also brokenhearted with the loss of his girlfriend to the lead actor, he begins to tell a fantastic tale about six heroes and their common enemy, the hideous Governor Odious. Black Bandit that lost his brother Blue Bandit that was killed by Odious' men; the expert in explosives Luigi that was outcast in his town by Odious; the Indian that lost his gorgeous wife that was abducted by Odious; the former slave Otta Benga that lost his twin brother in the fields of Odious; Charles Darwin that receives a rare "Mistica Americana" butterfly killed by Odious; and Mystic that hated Odious that destroyed the fauna and flora of his lands, join forces to defeat the evil Odious. While Alexandria fantasizes the story projecting the images of her acquaintances in the characters, the heartsick Roy uses her innocence to ask the girl to still morphine and medicines from the dispensary for him to commit suicide.

"The Fall" is one of the most original films that I have recently watched. This adventure has a stunning opening sequence in black and white and slow motion with the Allegretto from Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770-1827) Symphony # 7 in A mayor, Opus 92 in the soundtrack. The story entwines reality and fiction, burring the situations in a certain moment, and may be understood in many layers; therefore this dramatic feature can also been seen by children and is a great family entertainment. The cinematography sets and locations are very beautiful and bright with intense use of colors. This is the type of movie that deserves to be watched more than once to have the full understanding of all situations. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Dublê de Anjo" ("Stunt of Angel")

I saw this film in the Toronto Film Festival and was somewhat surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and the extent to which I was engaged in the reality that it creates. Catinca Untaru's performance is heartwarming and completely captivating, a truly lovable child-star whose appeal is based upon her authenticity and talent as opposed to her ability to bat her eyelids or wrinkle her nose. Her relationship with Roy (Lee Pace) is touching to behold and more importantly, entirely believable. Of course, as expected with Tarsem Singh as a director the film is visually stunning, featuring Baraka-like eye candy, which in itself deserves rave reviews and as a subsidiary to the story creates something quite spectacular. The use of worldwide locations allowed Tarsem to share some truly beautiful images with the viewers, and teamed with Catinca's acting left the audience as putty in his hands, laughing and crying as he wished.

I was absolutely blown away. I absolutely had no idea really what this movie was about and I didn't do any research on it and met a friend to see this screening and I have to tell you THIS IS film MAKING!!! I loved every minute of it!!!! I don't know why it hasn't been released but this is one movie I have to have in my video library to watch and watch over again. Story telling at its ultimate highest. I was very impressed with Catinca Untaru "Alexandria", I would love to see more of her, very talented not to mention Lee Pace, you can tell they worked very well together. I can not wait to see this movie again. I felt the ending was closure. Dan Gilroy - you need to write more often-I just can't say enough about this film. The cinematography ....is just awesome. Please release this film, I wanna see it again.

I saw this film two weeks before its scheduled release at the Los Angeles Indian Film Festival at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood. The film saw a surprise premiere after another in the festival was canceled. The visuals are like nothing I have ever seen before: spectacular, epic, ... words cannot describe this masterpiece of cinematography. Every scene is a work of art. The color palate is so rich, from the bright orange of desert mountains, to the vibrant red of a blood-soaked sheet, to the opulent green of the Indian's attire. The first five minutes of the film were arresting, the haunting soundtrack, the beautiful black and white images, I had goosebumps.

The acting seems very candid, very real. The young Romania actress playing the role of Alexandria is adorable, and Lee Pace as always is superb as the hospitalized, paraplegic stuntman. The characters were absorbing, and the story captivating. And where many films were unworthy of the title of "A Fairy-tale for Adults" this film truly is. It is about love, death, adventure, responsibility, and growing up.

The sheer magnitude of this film is unbelievable, shot in 18 countries, spanning many years (for the director to scout locations and cast appropriate actors) it is a true work of genius and a commitment by all cast and crew. I just hope that the filmmakers get enough out of the commercial end of this movie, to compensate them for the great effort that so obviously went into the making of this film and so that we might possibly get another like it in the future.

If you have not seen, or in fact, heard, of this movie, let me be the first to tell you about it.

This was and is the sort of experience that first enraptured and astounded me as regards to the movies. A story told in such a way as to become a part of your awareness, a gentle reminder of the fantastic, mythical and magical components of what is best in humanity whilst not forgetting what it means to be human.

Breathtaking does not even begin to describe the cinematography. The colors, the framing, costumes, lighting, and the backdrops are gorgeous; like something out of a dream. If this was just a visually moving film, that would be enough but there is so much more.

Tarsem Singh's direction is possessed. He manages to capture a kaleidoscope of emotion as diverse and generous as the tones and colors that deliver this movable feast for the eyes. His motley casting of relatively unknown actors is inspiring and refreshing.

The acting is extraordinary. Both poignant and comical, this journey of heartbreak and revenge, of discovery and friendship is conveyed with joy, witticism, curiosity and a vulnerability that is so rare in life, never mind in movies, it left me humbled. Especially the young Romanian girl, Catinca Untaru, who, not only made her big screen debut in this movie but is the heart and soul of the film in a breakthrough performance that I am sure will garner rave reviews.

It is my sincerest hope that you find this movie as emotive, tender and touching as I.

The Fall is a charming, fantastical story with a haunting undertone and features the most endearing child actress since Jacques Doillon's Ponette... what more could a film boast? Moreover, this film could be watched on mute and still make a lasting impression on the viewer through its striking imagery. The Fall is the story of Alexandria, an injured immigrant child wandering the hospital where she is being treated. The viewer is drawn, with Alexandria into a dark and extravagant world through the story of a maimed stuntman who she befriends. The skilled interaction between the finely divided reality and fantasy is reminiscent of David Cronenberg's eXistenZ. I can not recommend this film any more strongly.

Its been 5 days since i saw this film now, and I'm still thinking about it. It achieves an intense feeling of epic grandeur with its fantasy scenes, which are visually mesmerising. The casting was excellent, i thought the acting was very good, especially since all the actors/actresses are fairly unknown, especially the girl who plays Alexandria - an incredibly natural performance; this can probably be attributed to Tarsem's approach.

This film will make you laugh and cry simultaneously and has a profound effect on the viewer.

I actually found viewing it somewhat humbling, i just tried to appreciate it tot he best of my ability.

This has three things to recommend it. Any two would be remarkable. All three make it a must see.

The most striking aspect of course is how lush the thing is. We may never see another film like this, one that uses real locations and practical effects but which has all of the other benefits of technology. Just the scope in impress of the thing makes it a thrill. Not only do we skip from one profound space to another, but Singhhas selected what seems to be the very best location for the eye. Often these are Tarkovsky-like so that we can see some action in the foreground and with a pan other action in the background. I doubt his DP made these decisions, so the choices are more remarkable.

"The Cell" had some powerful images, but they were incoherent, as if they were designed by competing art departments. No such problem here. Not only do the imaginary sequences have the same color palette (as it changes) even though the locations are a bewildering variety, but all the other artistic values do as well. We could well have different continents mixed in the same few minutes without a situational shift. That alone is a rare and worthy experience.

A second striking aspect is the narrative folding. At first glance it is simple and ordinary: a nested story with blended elements. But overlain n this is a parallel nesting about stories and movies, being a movie about movie-making. And falls, deliberate and staged, with some deep ambiguity about which is which. And which are physical and which emotional. It isn't great art, but its head and shoulders above most.

And finally we have the little girl. Now, I usually revolt when these are used to elicit the standard response. I gagged at "Miss Sunshine," because it was a weak project supported by cuteness. But this is a wholly different thing. This girl is fantastic. There are parts of the script that are embarrassing, and the end is a travesty of a story setup. But she pulls it off and we hardly notice.

This has one of the most impressive title sequences I have ever seen. It alone deserves praise.

I would trade ten "Pan's Labyrinth"s for one of these.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

This movie needs a 4k UHD Blu ray release. I can't think of a movie that would shine in 4k more. Great movie and stunning visually

Visually Tarsem Singh's "The Fall" is one of the most beautiful films ever made. The credit sequence, shot in slow motion and in black and white, is breathtaking and when it goes into full colour it is never less than gorgeous. It's a kind of Arabian Nights phantasia as Lee Pace's hospital patient, (he's an injured stuntman with suicidal tendencies), tells a series of tall tales to a another patient, a little girl with a broken arm, (an enchanting Catinca Untaru), The problem is the stories are too 'adult' for children, as are the sequences set in the hospital, and too inconsequential for an adult audience. However, imagery this beautiful is rare, (Singh shot the film in a number of world-wide locations), and if there isn't much here to tax the brain, the eye is constantly dazzled. Unfortuantely, in this case, that really isn't enough.

I saw this movie at the Toronto film festival, the Elgin Theater.

First off, it was nice to see a film where the director had complete creative control to execute his vision. This film does not suffer the fate of marketers or no talent Hollywood producers who think they are artist or visionaries.

If you liked Cinema Paradiso and the Princess Bride then you will also love this film. Tarsem's lavish imagery and fantastic locations create the atmosphere for an epic adventure, while the acting of Lee Pace, Justine Waddell and especially, Cantinca Untaru provide the drama and laughter.

First, Cantinca Untaru as Alexandria is superb. I normally avoid films with children as they are usually cheesy or groan worthy. Cantinca, however, is much like the little boy in Cinema Paradiso, a natural child. When Alexandria says things we believe her, when she does things it is her child like nature we are watching come out. There is nothing stiff or unnatural about this young actress and it is a great credit to Tarsem as a director that he was able to pull this level of acting from a child. While watching the movie, I was amazed at how Tarsem and Cantinca were able to move the audience from laughter to tears and back to laughter so fluidly. Lee Pace puts in an excellent show and does a great job as a suicidal patient in the hospital, but Cantinca is definitely the star of this show.

Tarsem has a great eye for location and he exhibits it well in this movie. It truly was shot all over the world. Along with all the great locations are the beautifully colorful costumes of fashion designer Eiko Ishioka. The costumes are larger than life and beautiful in their symbolism.

So having said all that, I would highly recommend this movie. This is one of those rare films that actually does have a bit of something for everyone yet keeps its integrity.

I watched this film with no prior knowledge of its content or reviews, and now - looking at the imdb ratings - I'm not at all surprised by the differing but generally very positive reviews.

It certainly is a highly unusual film, using lush fantasy story telling to develop two characters who befriend each other in a (1920s?) American hospital. They are Roy (Lee Pace), a film stunt man recovering from a serious fall and a broken relationship, and Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), a very young girl with a broken arm.

Catinca's performance as Alexandria is truly exceptional, one of the most realistic and unique characters I've seen in any movie. Her accent was, at times, a little tricky to understand, but my word what an extraordinary performance from a girl probably only 9 or 10 years old.

She delights in listening to the tall tales of strange characters, heroes and villains told to her by Roy, and as Roy tells these stories the characters he describes come to life on screen. The movie constantly switches from the reality of the hospital, to the fantasy world of Roy's stories (or perhaps the stories as young Alexandria imagines them in her mind).

The result is a complex and at times perplexing film, that is never less than visually interesting and always highly creative.

Although I did not fully engage, emotionally, with the story and characters as much as I would have liked, I did have a sense of watching something a bit special that would benefit from a second viewing. There are lots of intertwined stories and characters here, as well many visual clues that could easily be missed, and I suspect a second viewing would help with understanding the film.

Was there a little nod to 'Cinema Paradiso' in this film too? The celebration of moving images and the effect of film on the imagination? I think so.

An intriguing and recommended watch, and one to be revisited.

Tarsem Singh got an unique and visionary visual style - be it Mirror Mirror, Immortals, The Cell or The Fall, the visual quality is always top notch. Nonetheless, The Fall falls short to entertain me - the pictures are grande but I miss some momentum and suspense, and the interwoven story with the kid is rather boring and cliche. Still to the day, The Cell is the one true masterpiece he made.

I saw this film recently at a test screening. For me it worked brilliantly on so many levels. Not the least of which is in it's originality. This is a film unlike any other and one that kept me thinking about it for days afterward. Director Tarsem Singh, as expected,delivers every scene as a work of beauty, and peppers the film throughout with visual surprises. But The Fall is about much more than eye candy. High adventure, spectacular vistas, love, betrayal, and two lead actors who develop a relationship that is actually moving in more than a superficial way. Think David Lean as filtered through Jean-Pierre Jeaunet. The Fall is simply Tarsem Singh's love letter to cinema.

or beautiful in profound sense. an adventure. and the ice flowers of imagination. all is seductive and large and powerful and touching and unique. first, the great performance of the young Catinca Untaru. then - the story itself. homage of childhood, total show, "The Fall" is the film who could be the ideal refuge against the shadows of near reality. for its poetry more than for its fantastic. in essence - one of the wise Oriental stories about meanings and about miracles and love and happy meets. nothing new, at the first sigh. but all great in each senses.

The premise is magical: a wounded stuntman tells an epic tale to a little girl in a hospital, and her imagination brings it to life. Lee Pace is magnetic, and Catinca Untaru, as the girl, is luminous - she grounds the film with genuine innocence and curiosity. But even with her warmth, the emotional center sometimes feels distant, like the characters are walking through a painting rather than living inside it.

I wanted to love it. I wanted to feel it as deeply as I saw it. But too often, the beauty became a barrier - gorgeous, yes, but cold. The grief at its core never quite pierced the surface the way it could have.

Still, for sheer ambition and craft, The Fall is unforgettable. It's a visual odyssey, a monument to imagination - even if the heart of it doesn't beat as loudly as it promises.

Somewhere on the Internet, someone wrote a column, "The Ten Most Visually-Stunning Movies Of The Last Decade" (or something like that.). The only movie I hadn't never heard of on this list was this one - The Fall - so I anxiously checked it out. Well, it certainly lived up to expectations, especially on Blu-Ray which was the recommended way to view the DVD.

Yes, it was one of the most amazing visual films I've ever seen. The story was a strange one and which gave me mixed feelings about it, was it was but okay. If read the other reviews here, you'll find everyone agrees "The Fall" is amazing "eye candy" but opinions really vary on the story, from loving it to hating it. In addition to the stunning visuals, the other thing that amazed me was how good an actress young Catinca Intaru ("Alexandria") turned out to be. I can see why she beat out 400 other competitors for this role, and received top billing. A Romanian girl who could speak decent English, she and the lines she delivered made for a very believable character.

Overall, this is a film you might like and might not, perhaps depending on your appreciation for photography. To me, that and realism of the child actress, made it a disc worth keeping.

This is quite an enjoyable depiction of some multi-lingual Arabian Nights-style scenarios as we find "Roy" (Lee Pace) in an hospital in 1920s Los Angeles. He had previously been a movie stuntman but an accident has robbed him of the use of his legs and so with medical science being somewhat limited, he is pretty much bedridden. Also in the hospital is the young "Alexandria" (Catinca Untaru) who is recovering from breaking her arm and in need of some cheering up. With a vivid and varied imagination, he begins to regale his new friend with fantastic tales of bandits and slaves all trying to defeat the epitome of evil that is "Odious". Along the way, she becomes enthralled as the "Black Bandit" tries to avenge the killing of his "Blue" brother by working with the equally aggrieved "Luigi" (Robin Smith) who turns out to be quite nimble when it comes to getting things to blow up! Indeed, before too long we have quite a few folks determined to bring their nasty antagonist to book. There is method to his madness in telling these stories, though. She is charged with procuring some medicine for him that he can't get from the nurses. When we discover just what that is, then we begin to appreciate that "Roy" has a darker agenda of his own. The question might be, will his stories create a bond with the youngster that might divert him from that path? This is great fun, with loads of action packed into a two hours that really does fly by. The performance from Daniel Caltagirone as the baddie reminded me a little of the sergeant from the old "Zorro" television series - menacing but in an almost avuncular fashion, and with loads of swash and buckle, pyrotechnics and fantastic mystery it's just as easy for us to get sucked into his stories as it is for the young "Alexandria" - and that's a character that's played well by the young Miss Untaru - imbuing enthusiasm, a bit of awe, and latterly something altogether a little more poignant. The scoring is lively, the dialogue frequently quite funny and the portmanteau style of chaptered storytelling works well. It's for grown ups; you can appreciate that pretty much from the start and I really did like it.

Yes yes, cutesy little girl, great actress, endearing, with majestic visuals but... it never really goes anywhere. And after awhile the novelty wears off and by the midpoint in the movie I found myself waiting for a "point". By the last quarter, I was waiting and hoping for an "end" and slipping into terminal boredom.

Obviously most people liked the movie a lot better than me, and I have no problem with that. There is no reason to give this movie a one or a two but I wish it had been over at the midpoint, giving me the experience without the listless last half.

Here's your tenth line. Like the rest of the movie, it doesn't contribute much.

"The Fall" is a visually stunning and emotionally engaging film that leaves a lasting impression. Directed by Tarsem Singh, it offers a unique blend of fantasy and reality, set in 1920s Los Angeles.

The story follows Roy (Lee Pace), a bedridden stuntman recovering from an accident, who befriends a curious young girl, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru). To pass the time, Roy crafts an elaborate tale of adventure and heroism, which Alexandria visualizes in extraordinary detail.

The film's most remarkable aspect is its visuals, with awe-inspiring scenes shot across 28 countries. Each frame is meticulously composed, offering breathtaking landscapes and vibrant costumes that immerse the viewer in its fantastical world. The reliance on real locations over CGI enhances the authenticity and beauty of the imagery.

Lee Pace delivers a heartfelt performance as Roy, capturing both his despair and his subtle connection with Alexandria. Catinca Untaru, in her debut role, shines with a natural and unfiltered portrayal of childhood wonder and vulnerability, adding depth and sincerity to their relationship.

While the film excels in its visuals and emotional resonance, its narrative pacing occasionally falters, and some may find the shifts between the real world and the fantasy sequences a bit disjointed. However, the overarching themes of loss, resilience, and the escapism found in storytelling remain compelling throughout.

"The Fall" is a distinctive film that blends visual splendor with an emotionally driven story making it a memorable experience worth watching.