STRINGS (2004)

Cast

Plot

Anders Ronnow-Klarlund has pulled off something of a coup here. Billed as the first 'fully integrated' puppet feature, though the seminal Team America must have come a close second. Strings treads a very different terrain to the Parker/Stone collaboration though. The tone is more evocative of classical myth from one of the ancient civilisations. It deals with suicide, piety, long burning grudges, hidden identity, political corruption, greed, sexual desire and destiny. The style is reminscent of a a kind of East European Expressionism, with a touch of the far east shadow puppet theatre tradition. What lifts Strings out of the novelty genre is the filmmakers attention to detail, the keystone of successful animation. A whole world is created, including a whole culture and spirituality that emphasise the the realness of the ever-present strings, rather than desperately trying to hide them. Best puppet show since that bit with the goats in The Sound of Music.