Verdict
Summary
A phantasmagorical and vividly animated feature film with a textbook-style history lesson rather than a narratively focused endeavor, Song of the Miraculous Hind has a number of assets working for it, namely that it feels timeless and age-old, as if it was conjured straight from the campfires of Hungarian lore, told by feeling and passion rather than by a storyteller, per se. It’s a gorgeous film, filled with color and transfiguring images that bleed and blossom, never feeling static or stationary, always in motion. Filmmaker Marcel Jankovics made a wildly fascinating film here, and fans of animation would do well to take note of his very unique style of animation.
Plot:
An animated journey through Hungarian myths, legends, and history.
Review:
At the dawn of time, early Hungarian man was shined upon by the gods, whose first hybrid man / god was in the form of a man made of grass. The Ice Age and the bronze age gave rise to stronger men, whose deities included a deer goddess, whose nourishing milk gave men the strength to endure the harsh years ahead. Hundreds and thousands of years pass and populations and civilizations (namely, concerning Hungary and early iterations of that region, which would go on to include Persians and Turkish cultures cross-pollinating with each other) arose, solidifying the bloodline that would give birth to a Prince of the realm, who would be the one to embrace Christ (Jesus makes an appearance), which would end the days of Paganism.
A phantasmagorical and vividly animated feature film with a textbook-style history lesson rather than a narratively focused endeavor, Song of the Miraculous Hind has a number of assets working for it, namely that it feels timeless and age-old, as if it was conjured straight from the campfires of Hungarian lore, told by feeling and passion rather than by a storyteller, per se. It’s a gorgeous film, filled with color and transfiguring images that bleed and blossom, never feeling static or stationary, always in motion. Filmmaker Marcel Jankovics made a wildly fascinating film here, and fans of animation would do well to take note of his very unique style of animation.
Deaf Crocodile’s winning streak of world films and animation movies in particular continues with their new release of Song of the Miraculous Hind. They’ve released this one in a two-disc combo pack – a 4K Ultra HD disc and a standard Blu-ray version – and the movie looks stupendous in its presentation. Special features include an audio commentary, a visual essay, and more.
