Strawberry Mansion

How do you resist when even your dreams are taxed and mercilessly injected with ads? This low-budget oddity, part Lewis Carroll part Terry Gilliam, follows a 'dream auditor' down the rabbit hole to find a new dream life and a way to stop the invasion of our minds in the 'Strawberry Mansion'. While the production is sometimes rough around the edges, the concept is intriguing, and the casting and creature designs are quite good. Kentucker Audley anchors this as the slightly bewildered auditor Preble, and actors Penny Fuller and Grace Glowicki feature as the artist Arabella, aged in reality and youthful in dreams respectively. How they managed to craft this lightly engaging gem on such a tiny budget is a question for the big studios to ponder.

Do you like your movies a bit odd and maybe a little rough around the edges? This is your jam, right here. One of those films that's full of heart and eccentricity, light on telling you exactly what to think about it. I love the retro futurist look, super indie but very charming. Acting isn't bad, either, and fits with the aesthetic.

I loved this movie! The aesthetic is very pretty, I got a bit Wes Anderson-, "The adventures of Baron Munchhausen"-, and Terry Gilliam-vibes from it.

The plot is very interesting. I don't understand the people here that says it doesn't make sense. Yes, it's surreal and the weirdness factor is through the roof, which probably is what confuses them. But I love weird and surreal movies that isn't obvious in any way. I hate being spoon fed what a movie is about (which is probably why I hate new and modern films). I like there to be shrouded parts you really have to think about, and movies you might have to see more than one or two times to get the full picture. Strawberry Mansion is just like that!

It's obvious it is on an bit of a budget, but I think that only adds to the charm. The length was good, but maybe they could've tightened the entire thing up a little bit.

To me it is a good sign when the reviews of a movie is either from people who loved it or from people who hated it, and almost no one that was just "Eh...". To me that is a sure sign the movie is interesting and worth a watch.

Anyway...I loved it and I'll definitely see it several times again!

Strawberry Mansion is a film you don't see as much of.

In the vein of Gondry's films like Science of Sleep or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Strawberry Mansion is utterly charming, using everything from a dreamy score, stop motion and great prop and set design to tell a heartwarming tale of love and dreams.

If you prefer imagination over spectacle, story over CGI, and heart over the sameness and blandness of many movies being released today then this film is for you.

The production value isn't top notch but the story and ideas are original, inventive and exciting. This film percolates in your mind long after viewing.

It's an enjoyable and satisfying journey which I'm sure to take again and again through repeated viewings.