Diva Del Mar Reviews: Liza The Fox-Fairy
Fantastic Fest films are a wonder to behold. The diversity of the genre category can be quite surprising and you get a fair sampling of each kind in this wild fest. Most films feature dark themes, heavy on the violence and shady atmosphere. I had been on a particularly dark run of screenings and was in need of something a bit more whimsical. After hearing the buzz, I awoke early and stepped into a theater to watch Liza The Fox Fairy and was treated to exactly the kind of film I needed!
Coming out of Hungary by director Karoly Ujj-Meszaros, this contemporary fairy tale transports you into the world of Liza. Our blue-eyed protagonist is a beautiful nurse whose only human contact is her ward, an elderly woman with marital ties to Japanese culture. There is also the manifestation of a Japanese pop singer who appears to Liza as a ghost, but I won’t say much of him. He’s a lot more fun to discover upon viewing the film. Through her years caring for the old woman, Liza learns to speak Japanese and grows a deep fondness for the culture. Having memorized an old Japanese love story, she is convinced that she too will fall in love in the very same manner as the characters in the book. Thus sweet, naïve Liza sets out to fulfill her destiny. Of course, nothing goes as she had hoped, and with the death of the kind old lady, Liza tumbles into a wily misadventure to find love despite the forces working against her.
The movie is a tapestry of beautiful composition and set design. The filmmakers make joyful use of color with a bit of CGI to enhance the more fantastical scenes. The film is a wonder to experience and has a bright score that tickles the imagination along with the story, characters, and sets. Liza, played by the achingly beautiful Monika Balsai, adds to the esthetic with her large, opaline eyes and lithe form. She is a walking personification of adorable, much like the iconic Amelie, though Liza has no mischievous cunning about her, just fairy tale dreams and innocent pursuits. Life has not been kind to her, but she clings tenaciously to her mission and the audience roots for her every step of the way.
It’s important to say that this film is also a marvelous comedy. Be prepared to chuckle here and there, between some truly guffaw-worthy moments. The writers took every chance to inject humor into each nook and cranny. My only disappointment is that I surely missed dozens of puns due to not speaking Hungarian or Japanese. Even with the limitations of subtitles, the film will have you giggling with joy.
This is the ultimate romantic comedy for those of us who can’t stand formulaic romance, especially if you have a penchant for a bit of horror. There are murders in this movie, and quite of bit of blood for such a magical film. The gore and violence fit easily within the story, weaving themselves into the tone and humor. Classic fairy tales were sad and violent, so too does Liza The Fox Fairy boast a gothic edge. That being said the audience is never robbed of the magical essence of the movie. For those of you with a low tolerance for violent films, this movie is still safe and highly recommended territory.
Enchanting as it is intelligent, this is not a film to miss. Put it on the schedule for date night when it comes out, and enjoy the funny, heart-warming, and murderous world of Liza The Fox Fairy.
Thanks for reading!
Diva Del Mar
