This 18-Year-Old Gem Is the Most Visually Striking Fantasy Movie You'll Ever See
This is the story about the power of imagination, which is capable of healing even the deepest pain.
Some movies take your breath away, and Tarsem Singh's The Fall is one of them.
Released in 2006, this movie remains an unrivaled example of fantasy and a benchmark against which any modern blockbuster can be measured.
What Is 'The Fall' About?
Hollywood stuntman Roy is seriously injured while performing a stunt on a bridge and ends up in the hospital. There, he meets five-year-old Alexandria, whose parents are immigrant workers.
To brighten the girl's days in the hospital, Roy begins telling her a story – a fantasy saga about the Black Bandit, escaped slave Otta Benga, an Indian sage, Italian revolutionary Luigi, and Charles Darwin himself.
Together, they embark on a journey to seek revenge against the villainous governor. However, as Roy's condition deteriorates, the fairy tale darkens.
'The Fall' Is a Dreamlike Meditation Wrapped in Cinematic Form
Born in India and steeped in the country's aesthetics since childhood, Tarsem Singh has created a film that works like a true meditation.
This practice allows one to transcend oneself, expand the boundaries of reality, and connect with something greater and this is precisely what happens to the viewer of The Fall.
Roy's world is so vibrant, rich, and emotionally charged that it begins to feel more real than a hospital ward. The colors scream, the costumes are the product of an artist who doesn't know the word "impossible," and the characters exist in a realm of pure imagination.
As Roy loses himself, he conveys his pain to the girl through metaphors, while she returns hope to him by refusing to accept a tragic ending.
You Won't See Such Visual Splendor as in 'The Fall' in Any Other Fantasy Film
Tarsem Singh rejected the use of green screens entirely. All of the incredible locations you see on screen are real – the film crew traveled to over twenty countries, from India to South Africa and Argentina to Turkey.
Every frame exudes authenticity, and the costumes and sets were handcrafted with the meticulous care of museum restorers. The Fall was shot on 35mm film, and its color grading is an art form in itself.
18 years after its premiere, The Fall looks fresher and more inventive than 90 percent of modern fantasy blockbusters because its visual language is born not from a desire to impress with special effects but from the need to tell a story about pain, hope, and the saving power of imagination.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Fall'?
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The Fall has 64% from critics and 85% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.8/10.
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On Letterboxd, The Fall scored 4.2/5.0.
Where to Watch 'The Fall'?
The Fall is available to stream on Mubi.
