Roald Dahl’s short story The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar concerns the titular Henry who, after reading an account of a Man Who Can See Without His Eyes, decides to learn the method, giving him superhuman abilities and even predict the future.
It has all the fantastical, lively and delightfully spirited qualities as many of his other novels, befitting material therefore for director Wes Anderson to get his teeth into. Fans of his idiosyncratic style will find plenty to enjoy and look at. Sumptuous sets and scenery, a lavish colour palate, endearingly quirky characters and a charming air of whimsy.
In certain ways it is more akin to a theatrical production, in that the action is not confined to the characters but the surrounding sets themselves, which also move, creating additional motion in relation to the actors. It does add an extra dimension to the narrative, although this filming style can be a little distracting at times. Together with the way the characters are visually represented, the overall result looks a bit too poised and overly composed, its staginess threatening to bring the action to a standstill.
It also isn’t helped by the spoken narratives by the cast members. Their flat, monotone delivery (though possibly deliberate) is often tedious, making it difficult to feel emotionally drawn towards them. That said, the characters are still fun to watch and a delight to be around. They can even be quite compelling, in particular, Ben Kingsley and Dev Patel for his sheer enthusiasm.
Thanks to the story itself, and the way it was originally written, in the same past tense third-party narration, the film holds the engagement without losing the audience, even though it can come across as a little pedestrian at times. But I feel that is more indicative of the storytelling device in general. I would not fault anything the characters are doing themselves, nor Anderson’s direction. An entertaining watch.
Wes Anderson's fantasy short based on the Roald Dahl short story.
Movie title: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Movie description: Chronicles a variety of stories, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who is able to see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole.
Date published: September 27, 2023
Country: United States
Duration: 37 minutes
Director(s): Wes Anderson
Actor(s): Ralph Fiennes, , Benedict Cumberbatch, , Dev Patel, , Ben Kingsley
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Thomas is a musician, writer and film enthusiast with a broad taste in films, from Big Night to The Big Combo. When he isn’t immersed in these activities his passions extend to the kitchen and food.
