Visionary Czech filmmaker Karel Zema’s timeless fantasy gets a hi-definition re-release through Second Run.
This unconventional romantic adventure follows an intrepid explorer from earth that lands on the moon only to find it already occupied by a bizarre cabal of wine-swilling gentlemen, whose members include Cyrano de Bergerac and the titular Baron.
Mistaking the astronaut for a ‘moon-man,’ Munchausen takes him on a journey back to earth in a space-faring galleon drawn by flying horses. But the adventure doesn’t stop there, as they go on to rescue a princess from a cruel Turkish sultan, traverse the seven seas in the belly of a giant fish, and blow up a castle to rocket themselves back to the moon.
Zema’s dreamlike fantasy is told through an enchanting fusion of live action and animation, which has been a clear influence on the work of Tim Burton and Wes Anderson, among others. While the narrative plays out like a pick ’n’ mix of weird and wonderful tales, it’s punctuated by hilarious comic beats and electrified by inventive visuals.
Considering its original release in 1961, the film feels both old fashioned and ahead of its time, mixing a heady nostalgia for 18th century fairy tales, Georges Méliès and the earliest days of cinema, with a more contemporary style of irreverent comedy and surrealism. The film’s limited yet bold use of colour and lyrical narration also reflect the psychedelia of the time.
Like an old book of half-remembered fairy tales come to life, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen is a charming watch that deserves an audience with a new generation to be delighted by its wonders.
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen is released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 24th July through Second Run, with a host of special features and a documentary on the filmmaker.
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