Here it goes: These reviews have to be the hardest to write. The kind that are done for a favorite director, but not really from their best of work. Guy Maddin has impressed me, beyond belief, this year. Everything he makes is so original/unique and in his very own style/theme. One thing is for sure though, he can always make me laugh regardless of how the story turns out.In this story, the sun never sets in the land of Mandragora, which is Peter Glahn's (our hero) homeland. One day on the boat ride back HOME, his heart is stolen by a woman, Juliana Kossel, who plays dirty mind games with him. Sucking him into a world of confusion and angst.~~Honestly, this film was a real let down for me, but I only say that "at this moment." - It really is one of those movies that you would have to be in a certain mood to enjoy. That is not the best a traits, but I got through it. I have to mention that the picture/color and the set designs/costumes were extremely phenomenal. Very bright; vibrant and pleasure-filled colours throughout the entire movie. Sort of like a Georges Méliès film in that sense, but if it were to be shot in a modern-day color- camera and if it was remastered. Another element this film carries is dubbing. The dialogue throughout this whole story is dubbed in. This may be annoying to some people, but I find it very fun and as long as you know it is Shelly Duvall's voice speaking for herself, it is all good.**You cannot help but smile while viewing this movie. My favorite line is in the middle when Peter tosses Juliana's shoe out in the lake while they're on a boat. She subtly kneels down and lets free her other shoe saying:"The shoe belongs to the lake now. I have no use for it. Perhaps little men will now row you back to shore."Ha! What a line. Sounds like something from the mind of Guy Maddin, but it's not. In fact, I don't believe he written this fairytale script. I am sure he had some say in it, but the screenwriter for the project was a Mr. George Toles. What a surreal mind; my kinda guy. He usually co-writes on Maddin's stuff, but this one he probably had his first shot. Uh-oh.I give this Guy Maddin film a depressing 3.5 out of 5 stars. I may change it later, when I am in a better place to watch it. As for now, I was hoping better from the Canadian wizard. I will give it a Sexy Orange Heart, though.

This movie is really odd. I saw this movie when it previewed in Dallas Texas at the AMC movie theaters, Shelly Duvall was there in person. . A very nice lady. After the movie ran, she walked to the front of the theater to talk about the film. The host or interviewer said 'I have a question, Shelly? What was that?" She looked very embarrassed and said " Well, i guess this is the kind of movie you do for experience.' Yeah. as if this seasoned actress needs the experience. anyway I felt sorry for her as she was being told what the audience had experienced was a very strange film that was not all that great. All i have to say is there is a lot of beauty in the film, though it is kind of odd. i didn't really like or dislike the film. It was sort of a fairy tale gone to mars or something.-Thanks.-

Spoilers perhaps.This is a wonderful movie that plays like a poem. The color is strong and overbearing. The situations are odd and dreamy. The characters are Fellini-esque and lovely.The DVD commentary on this film is very information and heck, I just like to hear Guy Maddin talk. His idea of metaphor like when the shovels are hovering by the girl's head in one scene is both sick and funny.If you like interesting directors like Lynch, The Brothers Quay, Cocteau or Hitchcock, Maddin is the guy for you. I have a goal to watch all his films, both long and short. I am so addicted to his work, I am so surprised to find only a few comments here about this film. Maddin should be more known!I love his use of older technique and Victorian/silent movie values with a modern twist.

I have a real soft spot for this strange little gem. It is garish, lush, stilted and artificial, with moments of heartbreaking beauty. It hearkens back to the grandeur of Hollywood of old, and yet is alive with a sort of mischevious irony, and a perverse love of the heavy handed gesture. All the actors do serviceable work, but my particular favourite is Alice Kreig's Zephyr. That woman is just remarkably charismatic, and her voice....my stars.This is fairly typical of Guy Maddin's bizzarre and wonderful work. Same sense of humour, same painstakingly textured(and hopelessly unnatural) sound editing, and same passionate love affair with the cinematic conventions of yesteryear. If you like this, Careful, Archangel, and Tales of the Gimli Hospital might be to your taste as well.Easily the finest movie I've ever seen about mesmerism and ostrich farming. 9/10.