The Cinemaphiles

Want to see BluRay’s full potential? Watch The Fall

Written by Brando Calrissian on September 2, 2009

Simply put if you are lover of visually stimulating and awe inspiring films, then you should DEFINITELY view The Fall.

The Fall is only the second feature length film from writer/director Tarsem Singh (now credited as just Tarsem).  You may be familiar with Tarsem from 2000’s The Cell which starred Jennifer Lopez, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Vince Vaughn.  Though he did not write The Cell, he did direct it and even then his sprawling, epic, and sometimes surreal visual style was quite evident.  If you enjoyed the visual flair of that movie and would like to view something perhaps a little less dark and grotesque than The Cell, then you should check out The Fall.

Not only does Tarsem create a truly unique, creative, colorful and beautiful visual feast; but he also crafts a simple yet engaging story as well.

Without spoiling or going in depth too much, what you should know is that the film is set in the 1920s and one of the lead characters, Roy (played by Pushing Daises lead Lee Pace), is bed ridden and possibly paralyzed following an injury he sustained while performing a stunt for a movie.  In the hospital he meets Alexandria, a cute and very curious little girl who is at the hospital with a broken arm.  A friendship (if not just an entertaining way to pass time while stuck in a hospital) is formed between the two, and Alexandria asks Roy to tell her a story.  From here the movie jumps back and forth between the story that Roy is telling (as imagined in listening by Alexandria) and their own 1920s reality.  As Roy gets further and further into the story and builds the interest and intrigue within Alexandria, we soon find that Roy is a man struggling with some inner demons and the task of accepting the fate that has befallen him in reality.

It is important to say that this movie is markedly NOT for every/any casual movie watcher.  The movie runs nearly two full hours and is very calm, patient, and subtle with unfolding its real story and meaning.  I would advise that people who are looking to marvel at a movie for its visuals as well as people who can be just as patient with the unfolding of the story as the storyteller be the ones who take a look at this amazing movie.  I went into the movie expecting amazing visuals, and wasn’t disappointed…but what I did not expect was how moved I actually was by the end of the film and the dynamic interactions and relationship between Roy and Alexandria.

The acting is top notch from the two leads.  Catinca Untaru as Alexandria is a discovery and truly a marvel.  I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen a better performance by a child actor/actress before.  Her performance is SO astoundingly natural, curious, and innocent that one suspects she may have been tricked into believing she really was talking to a man in a hospital bed and listening to his story.  As such, some of her reactions to Roy’s statements and story show confusion or at least a lack of understanding.  What a joy it is to see Lee Pace (who plays Roy) really show his improvisational acting chops when interacting with Untaru.  I enjoyed Pace so much that I instantly wanted to know what else he had been in and tracked down Pushing Daisies just to see him at work some more.

Truly imaginative and with creativity knowing no bounds, The Fall is a movie for anyone to see who is truly looking for something different.  If you’re tired of the same run of the mill blockbuster or put off by mini arthouse indie films, then perhaps The Fall is just what you’re looking for.

Extra tidbit:  Tarsem claims that zero CGI special effects were used in the film.  Everything was shot with real sets, real scenery, and on location.  This includes 26 different locations in 18 different countries!