Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale

Sitges Film Festival Review

That's why I like Sitges. It's like russian roulette. One moment you watch some samurai movie from the 70s and two hours later you suddenly find yourself in a warholesque movie like this one. I really dug it. Crazy unique and crafted with a lot of passion. It helped that attending director and team where very likable as well though.

Fonotune is a gently moving exotic still life set in a road movie, which is always refreshingly out of the ordinary. Worth seeing are the lovable characters, the minimalistic but detailed production design and the time and formally boundless aesthetics of the created pictures. For long stretches the film resembles a series of partly surrealistic works, which give the viewer enough time to lean back and look around. Long, uncut scenes. There are wondrous things to see, weird, provocative, things to smile about, but also wild decor. This applies not only to the pictures, but also to the soundtrack, which gives the dystopian mood a successful frame. A lot of creative art, a lot of heart but also a lot of room for interpretation.

I watched this movie at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain and was blown away by it. Definitely one of my favourite movies that played at the festival. It was a very unique experience. Congratulations to the whole Fonotune team for making such a wonderful piece of art!

HAIKU REVIEW

Beautiful Landscapes; Minimalism Defined; Slow, Artistic Pace.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

How do I even review a movie like this?

There is a very loose narrative to follow, sure, but it exists in a world entirely its own. The basic premise is that a group of music aficionados (including a "low-fi cowboy," a mute drifter and, presumably, a hooker) have their headphones tuned to an underground, avant-garde radio station that advertises the final performance of a legendary rock star, to take place somewhere in the desert. Also, the world may be ending. But even that suggests a bit more structure than is actually on display.

This is a movie where the journey far outweighs the destination, and perhaps that is why this didn't rank higher with me. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, with each shot feeling like a masterclass in framing the minimal while maximizing the impact of each. The soundtrack is engaging, but there are also some major letdowns in the department of expectations, as far as the music is concerned. Maybe I should have tempered those expectations, but when all I had to go on was a very trippy trailer and the published synopsis, I thought I was getting...more.

The pace is very slow. This has all the feel of an art student project with a bigger budget, and the payoffs for your patience come in the form of more gorgeous landscape shots with distinct color palettes and enough intrigue to keep you interested.

I can't really define the film by "acts," but maybe if the final few scenes played out along the lines that I expected, it would rank higher. I can't say I truly enjoyed this very much on certain levels, but in terms of purely striking visuals, it was a knockout. There isn't much detail to go into here, especially knowing what a deep niche this kind of film falls into. But if the trailer interests you and it opens in your area or plays at a local festival, check it out. At under 80 minutes, even at its somewhat grating pace, it is at the very least worth a watch. And for some, it will likely become a cult classic.

GRADE: B-

Fonotune: An Alectric Fairytale is Written and Directed By FINT

It's ok but not the best. If you like people walking slowly for 70+ mins you'll love it.