Finding the "MirrorMask"

There's a movie that's been hiding within the minds of a circus and hurt, flying books that is so artistically grand and metaphorically rich that it ought to have been witnessed by most who would claim themselves fans of film. "MirrorMask" features a world where the balance has been upset. The White Queen, who resides in sunlight, sleeps, and the land is being threatened by the black shadows that bring immediate death to beings of light. This is a land where the characters are masked and find the facial features of Helena, their 15-year-old savior from reality, disgusting.

The film is a fantasy featuring an intense hybrid of animation and live action. The combination fits the film and its mold of dark and light, fantasy and reality, individuality and dependency, life and art. These characters and this film juggles it all in seamless fashion.

It begins in a reality, of sorts, with bright colors we soon learn to be a circus. Helena is part of the circus and the teenage daughter of the circus' masterminds and business-minds. She definitely does not enjoy her position in life and wants out, proclaiming that she wishes her desires would be the death of her mother, Joanne, and thereby the death of the circus. When Joanne becomes deathly ill, Helena fears what she has done. The former brightness of the circus world become gray and drab and evoke a feeling of sorrow and danger.

I don't want to give anything away but only ignite enough curiosity for you to give the movie a chance. It's odd, as most great art films are, but it is not difficult to comprehend and offers a number of comedic elements. Enjoy this movie with a glass of wine and an open mind.



Favorite movie lines:
"Run! Faster! Don't let anything distract you. --- FOOD!" ~Valentine
"All those kids want to run away and join the circus."/ "Great. They can have my life. I want to run away and join real life." ~Joanne/Helena
"We could eat our weight in chocolate buttons." ~Valentine