What an impressive way of using music, a tiny bit of narration, sepia tone photography and odd imaging that doesn't make sense at first but quickly becomes a spectacle. The elephants who sleep with one eye open are angelic creatures of a sweet disposition who are seemingly there for what could be a decreased young Asian boy who has gone to the next world where his guardian angels are these amazing pacaderms who watch over him. Hints of a fire guides the viewer to what little exposition there is so it's a tragedy followed by a peaceful rest, and shots of the young sleeping boy as well as visions of him doing ballet like moves under water are interspersed with visions of other humans, possibly a mother and sister, and floating elephants represent what he refers to in the narration as the ladder to his dreams.
Giant birds fly around the other characters, at times making it appear as if the humans have wings, and what appears to be ancient temples seems to be a resting place for our lost young sweet hero, always sleeping and so filled with peace. Calm leopards act as a pillow, and through the narration (Laurence Fishburne so delightfully calm and soothing in the English language version), more details slowly are revealed. What then exactly is this film saying? Is this a vision of heaven where the animals we craved as childhood friends end up being our protectors, nurturers, companions and spiritual maternal figure? Is this a wake up call for animal compassion, especially for the gentle giant, the eye of the elephant which recognizes goodness and protects it.
The boy while sleeping underwater is protected from drowning, guided by this majestic mammal, moving around as if floating divinely finding the peace of a new world outside our own. This is just one of many possibilities that the individual viewer will have to figure out, and it's so beautifully done that discussions will certainly be necessary between those who have seen it. This is a deeper view into our soul than I had recalled from that other mystical view of our world and lives and aura ("Koyanaskatzi") from the 1980's.
Yet as beautiful as it is, to watch it again would diminish the impact because beauty like this can only be felt after the initial viewing where the calming sense of whatever world the viewer decides it is cannot be felt again. Just try not to sob when a beautiful baby elephant affectionately pops into the film, literally smiling as it gets and gives affection. Videos of real elephants with their sincere loving human companions and protectors show us the reality of heaven on earth, and if those videos make you feel angry at those who harm them, this film will make you absolutely furious.
Giant birds fly around the other characters, at times making it appear as if the humans have wings, and what appears to be ancient temples seems to be a resting place for our lost young sweet hero, always sleeping and so filled with peace. Calm leopards act as a pillow, and through the narration (Laurence Fishburne so delightfully calm and soothing in the English language version), more details slowly are revealed. What then exactly is this film saying? Is this a vision of heaven where the animals we craved as childhood friends end up being our protectors, nurturers, companions and spiritual maternal figure? Is this a wake up call for animal compassion, especially for the gentle giant, the eye of the elephant which recognizes goodness and protects it.
The boy while sleeping underwater is protected from drowning, guided by this majestic mammal, moving around as if floating divinely finding the peace of a new world outside our own. This is just one of many possibilities that the individual viewer will have to figure out, and it's so beautifully done that discussions will certainly be necessary between those who have seen it. This is a deeper view into our soul than I had recalled from that other mystical view of our world and lives and aura ("Koyanaskatzi") from the 1980's.
Yet as beautiful as it is, to watch it again would diminish the impact because beauty like this can only be felt after the initial viewing where the calming sense of whatever world the viewer decides it is cannot be felt again. Just try not to sob when a beautiful baby elephant affectionately pops into the film, literally smiling as it gets and gives affection. Videos of real elephants with their sincere loving human companions and protectors show us the reality of heaven on earth, and if those videos make you feel angry at those who harm them, this film will make you absolutely furious.