The Fall

We have an art-film theater in town, the Bijou. If The Fall is playing anywhere near you, go see it. A visual treat, the story is also immersive and the acting is top-notch. A story-within-a-story kind of experience, it reminded me of one of our favorite books, Momo by Michael Ende. It also has hints of Alice in Wonderland and other fantasies where a child is gradually drawn into a story-world and the events in the story mirror the teller and hearer’s real life. A young girl, in the hospital recovering from a broken arm (she fell out of a tree when picking oranges with her displaced/migrant family) becomes friends with a young stunt actor, bedridden after a fall from a railroad bridge during the filming of a silent “flicker.” (it’s 1915.) Roy tells Alexandria a fanciful story, full of exotic scenery and colorful characters. The intensity of the action mounts to a brutal climax (be prepared for violence!). The best part about the movie was the sweet, mischievous little girl. The part I liked the least was the wrap-up – it was quite abrupt. But overall it was a rich entertainment and a refreshing change from the American blockbuster fare we get in the mainstream theaters.