Rating of
4/4
What the folk!
Bribaba - wrote on 05/03/11
When it comes to Seijun Suziky it’s always wise to expect the unexpected, though even firm adoption of this principle still leaves you unprepared for the spectacle that is Princess Raccoon, an operetta based on a Japanese folktale.
Essentially this is a musical with a love story thrown in; the son of the Lord of Castle Grace falls for the eponymous princess, beautifully played Zhang Ziyi. Standing in their way is the Lord himself, not wanting to be usurped by anyone he considers more handsome than his good self. The bad Lord looks to terminate his rival with extreme prejudice, even though this is his own son.
The music, as you’d expect, is a mixed bag ranging from Asian trip-hop through Latin house to traditional Chinese folk. There’s even some heavy rock (The Frog of Paradise). The costumes are fantastic and combine well with the hand drawn backdrops and (real) scenery. Despite all the visual wizardry Suzuki always keeps the narrative on track, and the result is a stunning film and a triumph of the imagination. Seijun Suzuki was 83 when he made it.
