Wow...this Yugoslavian film certainly has received a ton of awards--as is indicated at the beginning of the movie on the DVD. The art style is very unusual and post-modern--sort of like a combination of what you'd see in a modern art gallery mixed with some of the animations of Terry Gilliam--but not quite. Most of the characters have ill-defined faces and are just odd. Considering the story and its ultra-serious tone, this works pretty well--and is quite artsy.
The film begins with the plague. In response, people are flagellating themselves and making various appeals to God. But, like the Poe story, inside a castle that has bolted it gate shut is a group of hedonists who instead of turning from their wicked ways, continue to enjoy the sins of the flesh--as which point a red entertainer comes--bringing with it a sense of foreboding. When he is finished, he reveals himself to be Death. But, oddly, these fools don't seem to take much notice!! Duh...if a guy with a skeleton face showed up at my house, you'd better believe I'd take notice!! Eventually, they all learn that all their possessions and pleasures don't buy them anything..as in the end, they are but worm food. Not exactly an uplifting story to watch and one you'd NEVER want to allow a clinically depressed person to see, but overall quite stylish and well done--and very artsy-fartsy.
