Animals with the Tollkeeper

Several years ago I had the privilege of reviewing new scripts for a major production company in Europe. Of the 2,000 scripts I read, only a literal handful have stuck in my mind, and only one of those offbeat few actually made it onscreen. That was 'Animals'. For unknown reasons (because this is a wonderful film) no-one has seen Michael di Jiacomo's first work, the limited release it obtained in France was for purely contractual reasons, and occurred in the 'boom' time slot between Christmas and New year when nobody at all goes to the movies. So, the question is not how strongly to recommend this film (which also has its flaws... but so does every director's first feature) but 'where can it be seen?'. Keep your eyes peeled, but I suspect it will take the first success of di Jiacomo (his next film?) to open distributors' eyes for a re-release.

it's one of those unknown gems that just stand there and wait to be discovered. intelligent, sensitive, wise, artistic, funny, weird... excellent.

what? at least four lines per comment? well, here they are:

some movies should be seen, not talked about. the surprise in this case is very important. just see it.

As it was written in the festival brochure "Animals" has breathtaking scenes. Also it is quite entertaining and witty in the beginning, but after the first quarter it turns into a long, artsy European TV commercial. DiJiacomo creates few interesting characters but they don't come alive as the overmystified plot wanders aimlessly. We can't even sympathize with Henry's passion for Fatima and his suffering becomes unconvincing.

i rented this last weekend, because it had tim roth in it and i think he is brilliant. this film, however, was a tad too weird for me. the beginning is interesting, but then somehow the thread gets lost and the end is just strange. things do come together, but then again, some pieces seem missing. and i felt bored in the end. sorry.

The irony of fate and the humor of time, which is always in the 4th dimension.

Time is not interested in people.

I would say that Time is only interested in its Court.

There are many films consist of different episodes. In this film there is a core that unites all these mini stories. And it is different for everyone.

It all starts with the meaningless existence of people, then there are "four rooms", "idiot", "counting the drowned", "abyss", "100 days of solitude", Asimov's Eternity, Well, the closest to the Strugatsky brothers Roadside Picnic and Monday starts on Saturday.

Ends with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I recommend it to everyone.