Ever since "Tuvalu" hit public screens, its critics have tried to peg it down as a fairy tale, a fable, a silent film, a miming film, a science fiction and a dark comedy, among other labels. But the film is not merely one of these characterizations. It manages to be all at once.
"Tuvalu" is a dynamic, multi-faceted film that adds a twist to the silent film genre. Everything about the film is fantastic -- it's like nothing you've seen before.
The story takes place in a coastal town in Bulgaria, with the time period unclear. Most of the action happens near an almost dilapidated, archaic pool run by an elderly blind man and his son. The film takes place during a time when the town is in the process of getting rid of the old and moving in the new. This is where the story's struggle is born.
The other main drama in the film involves a love story between the pool-owner's son, Anton -- played by French actor Denis Lavant -- and pool attendee, Eva -- played by 18-year-old Chulpan Hamatova. The official bad guy (who would like to see nothing more than the pool razed) is the infectiously mad Gregor (Terrance Gillespie), Anton's greedy brother.
One would think that after its director took out color and dialogue, a film would look and feel rather simple, but the opposite is true in the case of "Tuvalu."
The trick to this silent movie is the idea that sound is important
just not actual words. There's no need for subtitles or dubbing, because the actions, gestures, noises and beautifully choreographed scenes speak for themselves. The only words used are "Anton," "Eva," "here," "technology," "system," "profit," "imperial," "machine," "ambulance," "stop," "idiot" and of course, "Tuvalu." Viewed in a list, these words seem nonsensical, but carefully woven into a story line, they add another dimension to the film.
As the techniques of sound are unique, so are the visuals. The film is monochromatic, but the tint changes throughout the story, avoiding formulaic black and white and grays. The shifting color scheme adds complexity to the mystical setting of the story.
With all of these specialized techniques, we might assume that the film's director is well seasoned and established in the industry. On the contrary, "Tuvalu" is the first feature film from German director Veit Heimer. Heimer's been creating short films since he was 14 but didn't hit the big time until 1998, when "Tuvalu" was finished and released on the international circuit. Since its release, the film has won the Slamdance Jury Prize for best cinematography and the Sundance Jury Prize for best cinematography.
"Tuvalu" was a cherished brainchild. Heimer traveled across the world trying to find the exact public bath that would fit the scenes in his head. He auditioned thousands of actors and actresses for the roles in the film.
For me, the ensemble cast is one of the most intriguing parts of the film. At first, I was kind of uneasy about the large age difference of the two main characters that end up romantically involved. The role of Anton was originally supposed to be played by a young man close to the age of Eva, who is 18. Apparently, Heimer was so impressed by Levant's audition that he had to cast him for the part despite his middle age, and indeed Levant does a fantastic job.
Gregor is played by a stand-up comedian, which, to me, seems perfect. He's one of the most entertaining characters because of his maniacal laughs and the pure absurdity of his behavior. Some might find the performance over the top, but it's perfectly suitable for a semi-silent film such as "Tuvalu."
Overall, the film is immensely enjoyable to watch. I did, however, have to watch it twice because it moved almost too fast to keep up with. After watching it the first time, you'll feel somewhat spoiled after all these years of having the luxury of running dialogue, which allows you to pay less attention to the little things. Once you get into "Tuvalu," you'll find it hard to take your eyes from its extraordinary scenes and entertaining characters. And while the moral of the story is unclear, everyone will enjoy the denouement.
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