JAFF Post: Гофманиада

I saw this film as part of the Japanese Anime and Lifestyle Festival in Tallinn.

This is one of those films I am in such an awe of that I kind of don't feel fit to criticize it. It's a piece of art and I think it really doesn't deserve any bad things to be said about it. The animation is beautiful, the varying styles that are put together are interesting. It's an unfinished film still as it is of now, but it felt coherent and whole enough that you could get the story if you bothered to pay attention.

The way the real world melts to one with the artist's fantasies and hallucinations is brilliantly done and captivating.

Even the documentary bit that was shown afterwards was interesting and I am usually not a big fan of those "Behind the scenes" bits unless I'm a huge fan of whatever is shown. Sometimes even then. But this was fast-paced and not overly self-indulgent. It was still apparent that the whole thing was done with a lot of love, patience and passion.

The only real bit of criticism I have is that I don't think it ties in with the Festival. It's a Russian animation and it's a bit out of place at a Japanese Anime Film Festival. Regardless, if they had this exclusive chance to show it I see why they would want to and it was an amazing animation plus the the chance to meet the director and the producer is always appreciated.