Ruben Brandt: O Colecionador

It is hard to say anything negative about this animation movie. It is a visual orgy with unique and surprising ideas, dreamy visions, and fast paced actions. The story grabs you from the very beginning, and does not let you go until it gradually unveils by the end. Details are precisely designed and highly elaborated, and music selection will make you fall into the special universe of the movie - forgetting about your everyday environment. More like this, please.

It's 2012 Paris. Cat burglar Mimi steals Cleopatra's fan. The original target is the Regent Diamond but she gets distracted by the fan. Her employer is not happy. She contacts famed art therapist Ruben Brandt who is treating a group of troubled criminals. She recruits the group to steal with her. Meanwhile, Ruben is being haunted by art-based nightmares. He asks Mimi to steal the 13 art works that are haunting him.

The animation style is modern art. I'm sure more sophisticated eyes would recognize the style and name the influences. The art works being shown are beyond my education. It doesn't diminish my admiration. It's compelling. I do wish the story has more energy to it. I would have concentrated on one art work and make this more a caper movie. The different skills of the group suggest that is in play but it doesn't make it a priority. I really like the style and I would like more from the story.

I'm personally fan of Hayao Miyazake and I had some doubts about this movie. I thought "they can never do an animation as Miyazake did".

But I was wrong.

Soundtracks, artwork and everything was in order. 93 minutes of joy.

I loved it.

First of all I haven't write a review for a long time but this movie definitely deserves more than one review, since it was artistically perfect, maybe your style or not but it was done right, worth to check it out if it is shown anywhere near you.

I watched this movie during Festival on the wheels in Ankara, and fell in love with it right away from the start, but I have to tell it is a bit of an acquired taste, it takes a while to get used to the esthetics and physical appearances of the characters. The story is solid and interesting, it starts fast and pulls you in right away. The director balanced everything just fine, a little bit of fun here and there, sometimes a smile and other times a good chuckle. There are scary, creepy elements in this too, so definitely not for the faint hearted.

Without giving any spoilers, it is a very internationally culture references packed animation, lots of art, lots of cities with a nice background music. Overall I don't want to spoil any bit of it, since it takes whatever you know and recreates in its own universe. I salute the director for creating such a good piece of art himself by melting known art in his own pot. Good job!

Nothing can really do justice within the normal vocabulary to describe this in any constructive way. Just watch it and marvel at what is possible within animation, and how a story can be told without a single moment wasted in dullness. There is really no beginning, no ending and no middle, the structure is left completely open and without any real story telling, just moments unfolding for a period in time and then closing credits when they should not really be. This can be watched again and again, and always something else appears as if put there , when last time it was hidden. Some language here and there, but not too offensive. I think that aside, even a child could possibly be captured by the weirdness of every scene and complete randomness of the persons features. Go watch it and come back and tell us all what you think.....