I Recommend: The Fall

I feel like I could talk for ages about this movie, but I'll keep it as brief as possible, since this is decidedly not a review. The Fall, according to IMDb, was originally released in 2006 but either could not find a large enough audience or ran into distribution issues. Now The Fall comes to DVD in 2009 and hopefully to much wider acclaim.

In the film, a young foreign girl meets a paralyzed film stuntman in the hospital where they are both being treated in early 20th century California. A friendship grows between the two as the man begins to spin a fantastical tale for her. The camera weaves the story being told with the events happening in the film's present day, with extreme expertise; characters and story elements cross over and see the light of day in both threads.

But what's truly worthwhile about The Fall is its setting, and more specifically, its color. While the small California hospital is made up of muted beiges and tans, the story's heroes are radiant in jewel tones. Their travels take them across sweeping deserts, lush meadows, and sparkling seas. The architecture is some of the most ornate ever featured in a film. The colors and designs leap off the screen, making you feel as if you've never seen a greener shade of green than, for example, when the Mystic treads through the oasis grass. The camera shot length, angles, and cinematography features these aspects to their best advantage.

The most amazing part is that the director claims that no special effects were used in attaining the incredible shots used in the movie. The film is a complete treat, full of vibrancy and electricity that I've not seen on film anywhere else.