Tale of Tales (2015)

Review

134min

Genre:      Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Director:   Matteo Garrone

Cast:        Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones…and more

Writers:    Giambattista Basile, Ugo Chiti, Matteo Garrone… and more

-Synopsis-

Italian director Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah, Reality) brings us a dark surrealist fantasy tale focused on the intertwining lives of three neighbouring European kingdoms and their obsessive Monarchs; based on the works of Giambattista Basile, a 17th century Neapolitan poet and “father” of the European fairy tale.

Following on from his 2012 dramedy ‘Reality’ and the excellent Neapolitan Mob drama ‘Gomorrah’; Garrone sticks to his southern Italian roots by bringing to life 3 stories in the “Pentamerone” works of Giambattista Basile. One of the first to combine mythology and cautionary tales with his own ideas into dark Baroque stories and some the earliest examples of the classic European fairy tale, not to mention inspiring everyone from Charles Perrault to the Brothers Grimm.

‘Tale of Tales’ revolves around 3 central regal tales; Salma Hayek as the barren melancholic Queen whose child obsession leads to a grotesque ritual which grants her wish but leads to ultimate tragedy, Toby Jones as the distracted King who forsakes duty and family for an obsession and Vincent Cassel’s lustful King whose passion blinds him to real nature of his objects of desire.

Needless to say, obsession is a major theme in this parable and cautionary tale; as are lust, desire and the severing of unbreakable bonds.

This is undoubtedly a beautiful looking picture; Garrone makes full use of picturesque Italian landscapes and stunning architectural locations, from medieval castles to middle-age palaces and citadels up and down the country. When you combine that with masterful production design and costumes with a colourful renaissance/baroque look, plus the use of practical effects and very little CGI; ‘Tale of Tales’ has a very real and tangible look that’s rare in modern fantasy and which reminds us of classic Ray Harryhausen or early Guillermo del Toro.

‘Tale of Tales’ is not only weird in look and story, but its very conception is a curiosity; a true representation of a globalised film industry which features an Italian production of an English language film, based on European fairy tales and starring Mexican, British, American, French and other European actors… using their own accents.

It’s no surprise then that this fantasy tale is a bit of an acquired taste; not just because of an often stark and macabre sensibility but also due to the unconventional narrative.

Rather than one large story with beginning, middle and end or a collection of individual tales; Garrone weaves three of Basile’s stories together which are connected by the smallest of threads and confusingly jump back and forth between each other. Combine that with what may not be a satisfying conclusion for many, the result can feel like a bizarre journey to nowhere.

But it’s the journey itself which makes ‘Tale of Tales’ the unique and captivating experience it is; this beautifully crafted if dark and bizarre hybrid fable/parable is a welcome alternative to the neatly packaged cinematic fantasies of today, and a vivid reminder of the dark origins of our classic fairy tales, before Hollywood and Disney got their sanitizing hands on them.

The Bottom Line…

A bizarre and unconventional parable which may divide audiences; ‘Tale of Tales’ is nevertheless a visually stunning and strangely captivating story which harks back to the dark origins of the European fairy tale, perfect if you’re looking for something a little different from your cinematic fantasy… but make sure you don’t take the kids.

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Similar films you may like (Home Video)

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Matt Damon and Heath Ledger star as the brothers themselves in this self-referential fantasy, a couple of traveling con-men “freeing” towns from dark magic, who meet their match in a genuinely cursed town which will take more than their tricks to save.

Directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Matt Damon, Heath Ledger and Monica Bellucci among others.

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