Extraordinarily vivid, almost psychedelically imaginative animation from Hungary, long considered an international treasure (after its disappointing original local reception), only now, after four decades, getting an official Stateside release. With a style that merges Japanese anime & Peter Max, director/animator Marcell Jankovics emphasizes suggestive design elements over concrete narrative to tell a folk-based Hungarian creation myth/origin saga about a fertile white mare of the forest who gives the world three sons, each with different super powers in strength, iron & water. ‘Tree-shaker’ (Mister Strength) journeys to the underworld where he finds his two brothers waiting to test him before they join forces to save the kidnapped princesses from evil dragons of the lower depths. Only problem, how to get back topside! The myths, compiled from conflicting folk stories, are more in line with the Finnish Kalevala creation story than the better known Norse myths familiar from the Ring Cycles of Wagner & Tolkien. And why not? Hungarian & Finnish languages are related only to each other in spite of the dozens of German & Romance tongues found in places between these countries. (And each considered about as difficult to learn.) As fascinating and occasionally charming as this all is, it must be noted that the ‘day-glo’ pastel look and repetitive nature of certain abstract motifs can pall. But there’s certainly nothing like it out there. (Unless, perhaps, some other film by Jankovics.)
DOUBLE-BILL: Parts of Disney’s FANTASIA/’40 (The Pastoral Symphony; Night on Bald Mountain) find echos here, as does the color & saturation of YELLOW SUBMARINE/’68. OR: Master animator Richard Williams’ never completed THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER/’93 (officially released in an unapproved cut as ARABIAN KNIGHT). Best seen in one of the on-line ‘fan’ cuts; look for ‘the Princess’ cut.
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