Kamila (Salma Hayek) works cleaning house for Mustafa (Liam Neeson) while worrying about her mute daughter Almitra (Quvenzhane Wallis), who has not spoken since her father died two years ago and who is always stealing and causing problems in the market. Almitra comes to Mustafa's house and on meeting him, finds a gentle soul who speaks to her in poetry without demanding her response; when guard Halim (John Krasinski) is told by the Sergeant (Alfred Molina) that Mustafa is to be freed and taken to a ship that will take him to his own country, Almitra follows them and learns that freedom may not be where Mustafa is being taken at all....
This is an animated film, with each segment directed by a different animator, as a result of which it is an absolute feast for the eyes; there's something new and wondrous on the screen practically every minute. The story is really meant to just frame the poetry of the famous author, which is recited by Liam Neeson, who probably has the best voice in the world for such words. The poetry itself, well, that depends on your tolerance for such metaphysical musings; me, I have not much tolerance for it, but even so I thought the film was beautiful to look at, which can be enough in itself for some films.
This is an animated film, with each segment directed by a different animator, as a result of which it is an absolute feast for the eyes; there's something new and wondrous on the screen practically every minute. The story is really meant to just frame the poetry of the famous author, which is recited by Liam Neeson, who probably has the best voice in the world for such words. The poetry itself, well, that depends on your tolerance for such metaphysical musings; me, I have not much tolerance for it, but even so I thought the film was beautiful to look at, which can be enough in itself for some films.