Brilliant film

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 2018)

The opening music and narrative tell you what this film is about. If you arrived late or were not paying attention don't bother with the rest of the film.
You may also need to be above a certain age and most certainly be possessed of an attention span to appreciate this absolute gem.
Many reviews, for some odd reason, wish to tell you the story rather than how the story is told.
Performances are superb and the brilliant Doug Jones hits the spot again.
It is littered with references, from the beginning with the red shoes and cinema offerings, great subtlety and colour. Did anyone else notice the way the heroine blinks at the "interrogation"? PAY ATTENTION!
The director's usual mastery of using colour palette to descibe, enhance and explain proceedings (did you notice that in Pan's Labirinth I wonder?, or the film noir type shots in this?)
Watch the colour as it is integral to the story.
Were they really "goofs"? I think not. The dialogue moves the action around a bit from the supposed dates implied.
A beautiful tale beautifully told with imagination and great skill with glorious cinematography which transcends the simple act of the tale.