By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
GKIDs Virtual Cinema Release
Marona’s Fantastic Tale is more than just a meditation on life—a reflection of what was—of a beloved dog fading away. Unlike The Call of the Wild which is based on Jack London’s novel of the same name, with a happy ending this animated movie is an original work written and directed by Anca Damian and her son, Anghel, which is much more sombre and philosophical.
The titular character voiced by Lizzy Brochere reveals all that she’s experienced in a Parisian town filled with colourful humans. Sometimes, what the pup dealt with in the beginning is not as telling as her other encounters. There are some weird people out there, and they are definitely caricatures of people exhibiting some weird vices.
The bond I developed with this protagonist’s life unfold may well be as real for any pet. You’ve grown up with her and experienced things with her thick and thin. In this movie, she’s changed owners a few times. They’ve all treated her kindly. However, like the Canadian TV show, The Littlest Hobo, this pooch has a mind of her own and can decide if it’s time to leave so that the human can go on with his or her life–for better or worse.
Part of this film is about finding that forever home. Just how she survives is less about by the skin of her teeth, but rather about having the right person to be by her side. This canine is loved, but can she also cope with loss? Some of the artistic backgrounds may well highlight how Marona perceives her place in the universe. We get a tour de force spotlighting the best movements from art history. We have Dada and perhaps Postmodern; to identify them all is difficult as there are many styles, including children’s art, being presented. This direction is an effective way to visualize the end-of-life metaphor–as she recounts everything that’s happened leading to the finale.
5 Stars out of 5
