Liza, the Fox-Fairy(Liza, a rókatündér)

Billy Donoso

Parallel cinematography, reverence of Japanese folklore, an unfortunate series of deaths, and an abundance of feet— the Hungarian baby of Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. 'Liza, the Fox-Fairy' is hardly for everyone, but if you do enjoy it, you have to be the special kind of weird that I deeply, deeply empathize with. Karoly has constructed a modern fairy tale that plays with mythology freely and frequently, blending cultures, histories, and styles in this brief but vibrant film. At its core, though, is just a story about a girl looking for freedom: from the devastating curse that kills the men who try to get close to her on the surface, but more so from the manipulative family of the deceased woman she took care of, from the sweet nothings whispered by the ghost of a former heartthrob, and from the crippling sense of insecurity and invalidation that she feels. 'Liza' is a playfully bizarre venture into dreamlike visuals and vulnerable internal desires that are matched by the equally bizarre settings and circumstances that our protagonist's imagination brings her. While the movie itself indulges in fantastical elements, I don't want to write it off as a mere fantasy trip since a very core part of it is about reconciling our fantasies with our given reality. Overindulgence in fantasy means that eventually the luster becomes dull and you have a true dissonance with reality. On the other hand, overly submitting to reality means an acceptance of many of the frankly sterile and corrupted facets of our once vibrant, childlike imaginations and fantasies. 'Liza' feels like a story made for everyone and yet no-one at the same time, which makes it a delightful experience to have and a curious one think back on.