Hear My Eyes presents: Fantastic Planet + KrakatauMelbourne International Film FestivalDirector: René LalouxLive Score: Krakatau★★★★½

FILM REVIEW
By CONOR ROSS                                   

The animated sci-fi fable Fantastic Planet (1973), directed by René Laloux, has been re-imagined with an original live score by Krakatau, a Melbourne based prog-rock and jazz fusion act.

It was the first co-production between the live score screening production team Hear My Eyes and the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF).

I first watched Fantastic Planet in Byron Bay, on a motel TV during schoolies week, and my memories of the planet of Ygam were a little fuzzy. This re-viewing was a captivating experience.

Fantastic Planet tells the story of the human-like Om people who are subjects of gigantic blue-skinned oppressors called Draags. The Om are kept as illiterate pets. If they manage to escape — as the protagonist of this film does — they form into feral gangs that steal food and scrounge to survive.

The audience’s reception of the live score was fantastic; gasps and groans were heard at every comedic or tragic turn of the plot. Not only did Krakatau’s live score enhance the emotional impact of the many tragedies of the Oms, it gave a unique interpretation that built on the original film.

As the Oms search for a safe haven, a Middle Eastern-style guitar melody plays and the Israelites’ wandering is brought to mind. An aspect the original picture only touched on now flourishes with great effect.

In several instances, Krakatau completely inverts the mood of a scene. As a terrifying creature attacks the Oms with an anteater-like tongue, Krakatau makes an interesting decision to cease playing.

The ensuing silence, which replaced an over-excited funk jam, is only interrupted by the death of Om after Om, who scream warped synthesizer notes (played by James Tom).

The creature is eventually killed but, instead of a happy tune, Jack Doepel supplies a darker tone with the tenor saxophone, the discordant soundscape of the Om’s first violent act is an interesting foreshadowing to the violent civil war that will follow.

Not only is Krakatau’s score impressive in effect, they are impressive in their bravery to bring a new interpretation to a film that is more than 40 years old.

The decision to mix a live score with an animated film was a bit of a risk, but one that paid rich dividends. Hear My Eyes presents: Fantastic Planet + Krakatau is a fascinating watch, and an experience that could pave the way for similar projects at MIFF in the future.