"It is never until one realizes that one means something to others that one feels there is any point or purpose in one's own existence": Stefan Zweig.

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2018)

Inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig. Novelist and short story writer. Born at Vienna 1881. Died of suicide at Petropolis, Brazil 1942.
This is a work by director/ writer/ producer Wes Anderson. Playful, funny, original and quite unigue! A cartoonesque styled picture about love in times of war. Cant compare it with anything else because Wes Anderson's directing style is so quirky and unique.
Anyone familiar with this director will wanna watch everything he makes, because he belongs to the pinnacle of indepedent american film making. He wrote AND produced AND directed this movie. His total creative control over all his movies makes them unique in its kind. Yes it is a comedy, but not as we are used to see it. Yes, it is quirky, but not as we were used to see it before.
Wes Anderson's comedies are subtle,full of tongue in cheek jokes and photographed in a CARTOONESQUE visual style that has been copied (miserably) by many others. Wes Anderson's direction style is not just a simple technique though, but a set of mind which differentiates Wes Anderson's pictures from all the other comedies. His jokes are very visual. Many many many directors CAN NOT achieve such a level of visual comedy, it is a unique talent only a few directors are blessed with. Wes Anderson is one of them.
Now you still dont know if this movie might be to your liking. Let me explain it this way: IF you love arthouse movies and IF you love to be touched by gorgeous creative photograhpy and original quirky stories then this movie is definitely worth trying. IF none of the before apply to you, this movie might be a waste of your time, because it is too peculiar to be liked by the masses, although it was the most popular independent movie of that year. Please take a chance, if you dont like this particular visual style, you will find out within 15 minutes. The rest will have discovered a delightful gem, suited for young and old.