"Big Fish" With love in the imagination - a fairy tale in which the artist's "heart" dwells

"Big Fish" synopsis

Edward was famous for the fairy tales he told. About the witch who can see the future, about the giants she traveled with, about the forest that attacks people, and about the beautiful town beyond. Everyone felt happy and happy as he told his ``life story.'' However, Will, his only son, hated hearing his father talk like that. A father and son who have passed each other for a long time. One day, Edward's condition worsens, and when Will returns home, he is told that he has only a short time left.

Index

• A film that marked a turning point for director Tim Burton.
• Describing the “difference” between father and son, divided into present and past
• Creating a “place to belong” through film: commonality with Guillermo del Toro
• The image of water symbolizes boundless love

A film that marked a turning point for director Tim Burton.

What my father gave me. What you taught me.

Imagination is not the enemy. It's another form of love.

It's safe to say that this is Tim Burton's most gentle and heartwarming film ever. That's why ``Big Fish'' (2003) has a special brilliance. The fact that it continues to be loved by many movie fans more than 15 years after its release in Japan is proof of this.

Director Burton's films, from `` Batman '' (1989) and `` Edward Scissorhands '' (1990) to `` Dumbo '' (1919), have focused on ``misfits''. Director Burton himself has said in interviews that he is not good at socializing and ``continues to live a lonely life.'' It can be said that there is a tendency to admire people.

"Edward Scissorhands" preview

On the other hand, there have been almost no characters who happily walk down the middle of the road. In fact, such "positive characters" are often depicted as antagonists in Burton's works, like the husband played by Christoph Waltz in " Big Eyes " (14).

However, in ``Big Fish,'' such ``loneliness'' diminishes, and the film is filled with a ``euphoric feeling'' that feels like sunlight shining through. While he has inherited Burton's unique technique of bringing a fantastical touch to the real world and his style of ``predilection for abnormal forms,'' he also emotionally depicts themes such as ``reconciliation between father and son,'' which the viewer can easily relate to. The result is a human drama that will make you cry. It is no wonder that the public is calling it ``a new frontier for director Burton.''

What's interesting here is that this film was originally scheduled to be directed by Steven Spielberg. The film was scheduled to be produced after `` Minority Report '' (2002), and director Spielberg had originally envisioned Jack Nicholson as the lead. However, Spielberg left the project while the script was being revised. He ended up directing `` Catch Me If You Can '' (2002) instead.

Indeed, if you think about it, the story of ``Big Fish'' itself is very Spielbergian. Even without Nicholson's amazing performance, it would have been a very honest and heartwarming piece of entertainment. After that, the producers were looking for a director, and they decided to go with Stephen Daldry, the director of `` The Billy Elliot '' (2000) and `` The Hours of Our Lives '' (2002). If he had worked on it, it would have been a solid and moving piece of work. However, this project also failed to land, and Burton was called upon to direct after completing Planet of the Apes (2001).

“PLANET OF THE APES/Planet of the Apes” trailer

At the time, director Burton wanted to distance himself from blockbuster movies, and wanted to go back to his ``roots,'' like his earlier work `` Beetlejuice '' (1988). He also said that the themes of ``Big Fish'' overlapped with the experiences of losing his father and having a child at the same time.

As a result, the film was a success, grossing over $120 million at the box office despite an estimated production cost of $70 million, and was nominated for seven BAFTA awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was also nominated for four Golden Globe Awards. By the way, it debuted in 4th place in Japan. 1st place was `` Cry for Love at the Center of the World '' (2004), 2nd place was `` The Haunted Mansion '' (2003), and 3rd place was ` `Dawn of the Dead '' (2004).

Although there were many ups and downs, looking at these results and evaluations, as well as the change in director Burton's tone since then, it must have been inevitable that he would work on ``Big Fish.''

Describing the “difference” between father and son, divided into present and past