The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a darkly whimsical fantasy about a traveling London sideshow whose mysterious proprietor, Doctor Parnassus, offers audiences a passage into the Imaginarium — a mirror-bound world shaped by imagination, wishes and temptation. Parnassus, who claims to have lived for centuries, once traded his immortality to a devilish figure, Mr. Nick, and now faces a deadly bargain: his daughter Valentina must be surrendered on her sixteenth birthday unless Parnassus or his rival can win five souls inside the Imaginarium. When a troubled young man named Tony is rescued and joins the troupe, love, jealousy and rivalry upend the fragile family at the story’s heart. Seeing the film is an experience of bold, surreal visuals and playful, theatrical storytelling: you’ll move between gritty street scenes and kaleidoscopic dreamscapes that literally reshape themselves around each character’s desires. The tone mixes fairy-tale romance, sly comedy and moral fable, anchored by passionate, stage-like performances and imaginative production design. Expect an emotionally charged ride that asks questions about choice, temptation and the power of stories while delighting viewers with unpredictable, fantastical set pieces.
Actors: Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger
Director: Terry Gilliam
Runtime: 123 min
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
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