Long time devotees of Alain Bidard‘s works will love his latest movie, Opal. Most of this filmmaker’s catalogue of works played at Fantasia, and his last film was Battledream Chronicle. This movie is his second feature and his past works are often complex fairy tales. This film looks at why a young princess (Dawn-Lissa Mystille) named after a crystal is special.
Not only is she a wonderful, sparkling personality, but also brings joy. If she’s happy, the kingdom prospers. But when she’s sad, the opposite rings true. Whether she’s like the Well of Souls is not up for debate. Instead, what she radiates is magical, since the realm feeds off that. Because she’s key to the nation’s prosperity, should she go missing, plants will die and people will suffer. What we soon learn is that she’s living in a prison without walls. She’s allowed to roam the palace, but can’t go out.