The movie was a big surprise. The characters - from the optimistic and generous Toto, to the self-important fortune tellers, to the fugitive hiding in the funeral procession - were realistic yet idiosyncratic. We had caricatures of inept police and greedy tycoons facing downtrodden yet proud townspeople. The wry touches of humor on all sides managed to humanize everybody, for better or worse.
The fantasy scenes were absolutely mesmerizing and wildly imaginative. A statue comes to life, top hats multiply in the crowd, the townspeople blow away smoke, spirits visit and chase each other from above, and many more. It is like watching a Gabriel Garcia-Marquez story on the black-and-white screen.
This is one movie that I will not forget, meant in the best possible sense. What an achievement.
The fantasy scenes were absolutely mesmerizing and wildly imaginative. A statue comes to life, top hats multiply in the crowd, the townspeople blow away smoke, spirits visit and chase each other from above, and many more. It is like watching a Gabriel Garcia-Marquez story on the black-and-white screen.
This is one movie that I will not forget, meant in the best possible sense. What an achievement.