Landscape

The first scenes are really tough and you'll think it's the centerpiece of the Movie because it is followed by the opening credits. It's not the last time you'll be wrong - the story is complex, but it's not too hard to follow its twists.

In the beginning Storm is a very expensive looking SciFi-Thriller, interrupted by scenes of party-goers with their superficial chitchat talks, reforms into a superhero saga, makes the turn to some Silent-Hill-Looking countryside childhood drama and so on.

But don't mind: it is not nonsense, it is a story leading back to some childhood experiences, and there has never been a more cumbersomely but entertaining way of getting to the point.

And I liked very much the tough Eva Röse and the weak Eric Ericson, the usual role models exchanged, running through this set of graphic novels.

In addition to the comments of my previous speakers I want to add that this film is not about love but about childhood. Let me explain, and I will try not to spoil. Stephane was raised up by his father - now he returns to Paris accepting a job offer his mother arranged for him. No wonder he has no pleasure in his 9-to-5-job due to his creative character. So he flies away in his dreams - literally. And believe me - the dreams really rock! It is interesting that his whole dream world is made of materials he finds in his Parisian home where he hasn't been since childhood. So there is a layer of his relationship to his separated parents, perhaps an urge to explore his mothers world, her creative side (sweets wraps, toilet paper kernels etc). In his Parisian home there are different rooms. Most of the scenes play in his childhood room, usually asleep or doing creative work. There are more hints that Stephane is still a child although from his looks you will guess he's 24. Once he asks her to marry him when they are aged 70 - not now, apparently. And the question asked by neighboring Stephanie "Do you mean in it a romantic way?" (Stephane told her that he loves her) is symptomatic: she is far more down to earth, she has a strong sense for reality. Besides: doing creative work she is playful and matches Stephane well. But Stephane has some difficulties separating reality from fantasy. Stephane is all-day-long in a mood near to a dream, like a child. I think, he isn't adult. He is not prepared for love, he has to grow up more. He explores the adult world but he doesn't take part.

A documentation about Michel Gondry is called "I've been 12 forever". I have to watch this movie again and I will focus a bit more on this child layer of the Stephane character - if I'm not lead away by all the fantastic details presented during the way...

In the beginning Gustav saved Knuffi's life. They stayed together until Eva shows up. Knuffi wants to date Eva - but she resents him. She takes Gustav with her on the run. They get on the snake ship that is powered by astonishing analog machinery. Several years -and daughters- later they meet Knuffi again... The constructions and buildings are very cute, excellent work, and the camera work is also good, the actors and the soundtrack are o.K. The story: it is a far out fairy tale, you can compare it with Shrek. A narrator guides through the story, and I would have preferred less guidance and more insaneness. The insaneness comes through in details, the story rests in straightness. Two aspects that troubled me: It is my opinion that there is too much of ministers pissing in it. (You know about them from the trailer, I don't think I'm spoiling here.) It's getting boring after a while. The creation acts are male humor too, and the first is very good. And then there are some political parties badges that will substitute the Knuffi Reich's insignia. It is a very short scene, but it is a disaster. All fantasy slips away in this scene, all humor is lost, and the worst of all: the ministers demystify the Reich's Insignia. All other decoration details aren't explained in detail, they are open for the viewers fantasy, and that is how they should be handled. And no other scene intervenes with the real world - only this one has politics, and it fails. Dramatically.