Filmmaker Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, and Asteroid City) has a particular voice that stands out in the multitude of content out there today. Fans will be glad to hear that his recent work for Netflix does not move away from his trademark aesthetic; he shows his personal stamp in four short productions based on stories by writer Roald Dahl and they will not leave you feeling indifferent.
This project is a big bet for Netflix as short films do not usually receive much support on the various platforms. The format is not the only thing worth noting, as the productions have big names in the industry (such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade and Rupert Friend), so this is a move that has allowed Netflix to show a more innovative side.
The Right Time
Anderson had The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar in his mind for more than two decades, yet he couldn’t find a way to bring Dahl’s tale to film in a way that did justice to what he read and the connection he felt to the story.
Unlike many adaptations, Anderson did not want to alter Dahl’s work, so he decided to be faithful to the existing narrative. The original storytelling and aesthetics are supported by the set design and the actors who recite every word of Dahl.
“When I finally had the moment of inspiration, the idea was: ‘I am equally interested in the way Dahl tells the story as I am in the story itself,'” Anderson told Netflix in an interview.
“If I do it using his words, his descriptions, then maybe I know how to do it.”
Therefore, the director found a way to stick to the stories: the actors used Dahl’s words, narrating the story directly to the camera. You feel that they are speaking directly to you while they relate the events and tell you the dialogues, as if a friend were telling you about his life.
With this way of showing the stories, Anderson made a risky and rarely seen move. He exhibits a new narrative perspective, with touches of humor, originality and a scenography with a more theatrical tone, with sets going in and out of the scene.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
39 minutes
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (Henry Sugar, Max Engelman), Dev Patel (Dr. Chatterjee, John Winston), Ralph Fiennes (Roald Dahl, Policeman), Richard Ayoade (Dr. Marshall, Yogi), Ben Kingsley (Imdad Khan, Croupier).
Start with this adaptation of one of Roald Dahl’s famous stories that had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The story follows the life of an eccentric millionaire gambler who discovers a story about a guru who is able to see without using his eyes. He decides to use the technique to cheat in casinos, but after mastering the strategy, he changes his mentality as well, and starts setting new goals.
The Swan
17 minutes
Cast: Asa Jennings (Peter Watson), Rupert Friend (Narrator), Ralph Fiennes (Roald Dahl).
With the excuse of going rabbit hunting, Raymond and Ernie harass Peter Watson with a rifle. The 15-year-old boy with a brilliant mind is mistreated by two bullies who make his life miserable, trying to torture and kill him in different ways.
Roald Dahl was inspired by a true story he read in the newspaper. In this short film Anderson mixes live action with stop motion animation.
Poison
17 minutes
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (Harry), Ben Kingsley (Dr. Ganderbai), Dev Patel (Woods), Ralph Fiennes (Roald Dahl).
A suspenseful, tense and humorous short film about a man who discovers a venomous snake sleeping in his belly. The potential bite causes the characters to plunge into minutes of tension as they search for the antidote and try to paralyze the snake, which remains under the sheet the entire time. Throughout the film, the man (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains motionless and barely speaking to prevent the snake’s bite, allowing Anderson to play with cinematic language resources.
The Rat Catcher
17 minutes
Cast: Ralph Fiennes (Rat Man), Richard Ayoade (Editor/Reporter), Rupert Friend (Claud).
A rodent exterminator tells a mechanic and a reporter in a small English town about his plan to wipe out rats. They are stunned and disgusted by the peculiar and disturbing manner of the rat expert, who boasts an ingenious tactic for capturing the prey by trickery. This is a lesser-known Dahl story, and well worth a watch.