I first came across this gem when I was watching a YouTube video. It was then this movie was briefly mentioned. It was very short, with only about 2 seconds of footage, but it caught my attention immediately. It reminded me of short films I would watch as a kid, which were animations of children’s books. I always liked interesting animation, and it was with this I got into this film. I have finished watching the film, and here is my take, spoiler free. 

This movie is awesome. It was one of the most visually pleasing features I have ever seen. The psychedelic animation style used is beautiful. Each color is not wasted, and is used to create emotions and mood like no other. Honestly, if you have an urge to watch this movie, go in blind. It is the best way I think, and it would give you a more thrilling experience. So, if you would like to experience this, stop reading and watch it. Just trust me. Movies are a visual medium, and if you have conquered the visuals, there is no reason you can not like it. It is a Hungarian picture, so it could also serve as an intro or continuation of foreign films for you. 

One memorable moment that I enjoyed was in the beginning. You get thrown into this chase scene, and the sounds and visuals actually scared me on the first viewing. Looking back, it probably was not as scary, but it just kind of caught me off guard.

The story follows “Tree Catcher”, a young boy who is born from the white mare. The mare tells her son tales of how the three dragons laid waste to her kingdom, and  the three princesses were kidnapped, dethroning the fair rule over the people. Finally, our protagonist grows up, and has the ability to lift up trees with his strength, hence his name. He goes off to slay the dragons, and finds two of his brothers, each gifted with great amounts of strength. Together, they seek to find an entrance to the shelter of the dragons, and will try to save the princesses.

The movie is extremely obscure, and it does not get the attention it deserves. I won’t be surprised if you have never heard of this until now, but to me, it is a piece of art. Such movies make you think about how much hidden jewels lie around the piles of movies we have now, and in the digital age, you can be able to experience more than ever. Along with the drawings, it does not take itself too seriously, and there are gags here and there that lighten the mood. Finally, the soundtrack is astounding. The orchestra music almost makes it feel like you are watching Fantasia, however I found this one more entertaining. All these qualities make for a very inspiring experience.

Of course, it is impossible to create a perfect movie, and there are a few points I want to point out. The plot was alright, but it could have been better. This is a tale of good over evil, a hero’s journey on his quest to be great, take over the villain, save the damsel in distress, etc. The plot does not really give anything we haven’t seen before. Don’t get me wrong, the story is not boring. It is based on mythology so there is not much to blame on the filmmakers’ part. However, this reliance on the hero’s journey makes it pretty predictable. Also, this is a pretty age appropriate film, except for one thing. One of the princesses is not wearing a top. It could have even passed a Disney film, but the creators decided to add this one detail. I bet it was mostly an artistic decision, but now it restricts the child audience, which could have been a big factor in creating the film’s success. 

This is a film that attempted to experiment, and it is truly a piece of art. So, don’t be afraid to try it out. I greatly enjoyed this movie, and if you are willing to watch it, I have no doubt that you will enjoy it too.