For those of who have never heard of The Fall let alone it’s director or principal cast I can’t blame you. This was an independent feature that flew into the art house cinemas and swiftly flew right out. Without giving too much away The Fall shares some similarities with the equally amazing feature Pan’s Labryinth. However, this film is nowhere near as dark or violent.

I truly believe that Tarsem Singh has crafted a masterpiece. If you’re looking for a film that bucks the current trends of summer blockbusters while retaining and even trumping those films’ visual panache and punch (at a fraction of the budget) then you need to see this movie. As a designer I was immediately captivated by the art direction, in particular the photography of Colin Watkinson and the costume design of Eikio Ishioka.

Beyond the visuals I admit that it took me a bit to latch onto the characters as played by the principal leads Lee Pace and Catina Untaru. I realized my initial disorientation came from Catina’s portrayal of Alexandria, because her lines did not sound scripted. Unfortunately I have not seen a solid performance from a child actor for quite a while and I found myself getting used to the wooden deliveries so often on display. This is by no means a knock against them, but rather the skill of their directors to coax and craft their actors. Complemented by the equally impressive Lee Pace (of the sorely missed Pushing Daisies), this film definitely does not sacrifice the acting for the visuals.

As a final word, The Fall is a reminder of why I’m so passionate about movies. It is obviously an incredible labor of love and as previously stated, an achingly beautiful work of art. Granted this film is not for everyone and I think that’s an integral part of it’s appeal. This film is highly original and yet honors the traditions that have made the cinematic medium such a cherished part of our collective world culture. I look forward to Mr. Singh’s next effort and if you have the opportunity, see this movie!