Son of the White Mare is a 1981 Hungarian animated psychedelic fantasy adventure film directed by Marcell Jankovics. The film follows Fehérlófia, who has superhuman powers. Son of the White Mare is a crazy weird over the top film that arthouse and cult film fans will love.
The direction in the film is good. The film has a great weird and surreal atmosphere to it and as well as that the film uses its animation as a great use of visual story telling as there is no talking at the beginning of the film as it told purely through animation. This is further shown through the mood as the film has an otherworldly alien like feel to it with is further showcased with the film interesting animation. The film has a great classic epic dark fantasy feel to it with is further highlighted with the surreal otherworldly animation. This great animation is further shown with the film unique animation and deigns with is highlighted is certain characters in the film like the king and queen who are shown like otherworldly Eldredge gods. The film has a great psychedelic style to it with gives a unique dreamlike quality to it which is great. The film uses visual storytelling to its fullest with great and disturbing animation. The film brilliantly combines a classic fantasy film with sci-fi and horror elements. Combined with great arthouse animation. This arthouse style is shown in a weird surreal way with the destruction of the kingdom which impressively is shown with no dialogue.
The films direction is very impressive which is shown with eth sons’ destruction with is shown with no dialogue in a weird surreal way as this is going on the mum gives birth to her third son with ultimately kills her. The journey of her son is ultimately a weird surreal coming of age story with is son nursing him for seven more years and then he will be strong enough as the film as word interesting material elements to it. The film has interesting lighting and animation to with the son trying to lift the tree as the son’s father is interesting presented as a Lovecraftian otherworldly eldritch being. The film has an interesting mother and son dynamitic to it as the film also has a heavy influence of Greek mythology. The film has great surreal scenes to it with the son being able to lift a tree from its roots, the mum then dies and sets of in a geek tragedy like quest. The film combines classic mythology with surrealist imagery. The film surprisingly has a fun feel to it as well as a classic fantasy feel to it shown in a surreal way. The film has an interesting family dynamic with brothers. The film has religious imagery through the film with Vishnu god like imagery as well as elements were the bothers join hands in a triangle showcasing a spiritual symbol. The rule of thirds is used in an interesting way throughout the film as the film showcases mundane things a surreal way. The film combines comedy with a classic legend like feel to it. As again the film as a classic story fable element to it with classic film elements such as the rule of thirds. The film as a spiritual element throughout the film, as well as a great surrealism and comedy as they use a metal rod the shave the creature which destroys its power is a symbolic and comedic way. The film has a classic fantasy feel with knights, kings, and a medieval setting as well as this the film has a cool use of the decent in hell troupe.
The film has a great use of minimalism to it with an otherworldly feel linking to an interesting class of styles. The film also has great use of imagery with a bio-organic castle as well as heavy sexual undertones. The film is ultimately a classic fantasy film but shown in a surreal way as shown with the arthouse fight scenes in the film. Again, this is further shown with the film using classic fantasy troupes with a prince, a princess and a dragon combined with classic film techniques such as the rule of thirds. The film has interesting romance angle as has a good use of reptation throughout the film. The film is ultimately a Greek tragedy combined with a surrealist element as well as symbolism and metaphors. The film has classic fantasy film ending. As the main guy is about to kill his brother but his wife talks him out of it as he creates three castles for them to live with their wives so they can all live happily ever after.
The voice acting in the film is good. György Cserhalmi does a good job as Fanyüvö/Vasgyúró and Kömorzsoló. Vera Pap does a good job as Aranyhajú Nyárszépe/Ezusthajú Tavaszszépe and Rézhajú Öszszépe. Gyula Szabó does a good job as Hétszünyü Kaponyányi Monyók and Esökirály. Ferenc Szalma does a good job as Griffmadár úr. Mari Szemes does a good job as Fehérló/Hókirálnyö. Szabolcs Tóth does a good job as Háromfejü sárkány/Hétfejü sárkány/Tizenkétfejü sárkány. Ottó Ulmann does a good job as Fiatal Fanyüvö.
The writing in the film is good. The film has an interesting beginning with the horse becoming pregnant, a child in the film then grows up as the horse takes care of it showcasing the mother and child symbolic meaning in the film. the symbol use of three is shown throughout the film as they are given three wives, during the wedding they ended up breaking the dragons’ chains symbolically and literally releasing hell. The destruction of the kingdom is shown in a weird and surreal way with no dialogue as the three sons are now banished. This symbolism of three is throughout the film as the white mare gives birth to three sons and cannot provide for her third son. The white mare then runs away and gives birth to a boy a test how strong he is as the film is a sort of coming-of-age story. He talks to his granddad about wanting to be strong via his mother and preserve as the film shows the coming-of-age story mixed with the family dynamic. The film has a myth of Sisyphus themes to it with the son constantly trying to lift the tree and failing as the film also has the themes of family with the mother and grandfather dynamic. This maternal bond is further shown with him being fully shown and her still nursing him until he is strong enough as shown with him trying to lift the tree from its roots. This motherly dynamic is further shown with the mother dying as she says he is strong enough to go to the underworld as she ides as the film has coming of age elements, as he then meets a guy who can move mountains and acts like a child which is an interesting juxtaposition. They test each other’s strength and doing so destroy the environment as they are brothers, and this is shown as a weird form of brotherly love. He is tree shaker, and his brother is stone crumblier. They then find the third brother iron temper in a cave and convince him to join them after testing each other’s strength as the film has a brotherly bond throughout the film.
The three of them work together to enter the three as one of them cooks food whilst the others go out. The film uses classic fantasy tropes in a surreal way this is shown with the demon stealing the food as the brother is framed and punished by his brother via a spanking as the film uses weirdness with comedy. The same thing then happens to the other brother as the third brother then manages to defeat the gnome until the gnome destroys the tree but gets caught. The brothers eat the porridge and use a metal rod to shave the creature destroying its power which is a very good comical way of defeating him. The tree shaker then has a sword forged from the creature’s beard by iron rubber which combines comedy and surrealism brilliantly. All three of them are lowered into the hole one by one and becomes cowards. The third brother manages to go down the hole as the gnome tell them where the princess is as they go to the castle. The castle then comes down as the woman traps and tempts them in a sexy way. She warns Treeshaker that her husband is a three headed dragon who comes home to her as the film uses classic fantasy troupes in a weird surreal unique way. This is further highlighted as he defats the husband in as surreal fight scene as he goes to rescue her sister who is jealous as the film plays with classic troupes as shown the princesses as being selfish. This is repeated for the other sister as the film uses reptation as well as the three creates he must defeat are a castle monster, a tank monster and a building monster as the film has surreal unique villains.
The film uses reptation to it effect throughout the film with repeated dialogue, characters and sicarios. The film uses classic fantasy troupes such has drinking a potion to gain strength; however, the third husband is seemingly still alive as he fights and defeats him. This use of the number three is a theme throughout the film as all three husbands are defeated and he has all three wives which he takes to the top. The orbs he has collected along to way are too heavy however causing the opening to close and him to be trapped in there as he goes to the mountain to see the griffin as the film again uses classic fantasy troupes but puts a religious spin on them. the film has classic fantasy mythology as he finds a snake that has become part of the mountain that griffin that the griffin lives on and saves its chick, from this noble deed the king then comes to him for everything he needs as a reward for a selfless act. He gets a ride back to the service and he cuts off his leg to free him to get out and in return the griffin gives him back his leg. At the end of the film, they are all waiting for him. He is about to kill his brothers, but his wife talks him out of it as he creates three castles for them to live with three wives as they all live happily ever after as the film for all its surrealism uses classic fantasy troupes.
The cinematography in the film is good. The film has good use shadows and lights and well as good use of one block colours throughout the film. The film has good use of dark colours in the film as al good lighting and an overall cool psychedelic style. The film has a good use of overlays and an interesting use of their distinct colours for the three main characters. Inside of the three there is a good use of psychedelic animation as well as good use of contrasting lighting. The film has a good use of POV shots as well as an interesting overlay effect. The film has genially interesting camera movements and a good use of parallax shots. There is a great shot where the characters are moving on a rotating planet as the tree shaker destroys rocks in their way, as the film is minimalistic and psychedelic at the same time. There is a great looking shot where they join hands in a triangle that looks like a spiritual symbol as they have different colours creating the face of a sunflower which is one entity. This entity shot is further shown with the three coloured entities walking around with different coloured reflections. There is a good-looking shot where they poke holes out of the wood and peer through it as their eyes become like spotlights as well as cool looking imagery coming through a window. The film has some beautiful looking shots to it as well as an interesting rotating camera movement. The film has great combination of surrealism and minimalism as well as cool shots of their faces being front and centre and framed directly Infront of the camera. The film has good use of perspective shots and minimalism. The film has good surreal and otherworldly look to it. There is a good host in the film looking upwards as well as the film having interesting shots and transitions. The film has a good use of centre framing and a good use of repeated shots going into each other’s eyes. The film has good use of surreal masking overlays as well as good use of persecutive mirrors shots and a cool shot of the camera spinning around.
The animation in the film is good. The film has great weird sexual animation as well as a god use of shadows and lights. The film has a good use of colours and genuinely interesting animation. The film is ultimately a dark fantasy film with surreal animation. The film does have unique animation and designs with colours coded images as well as good animation showing a beard made from electricity. There is a great psychedelic style to it with the characters morphing into the ying yang symbol as well as great surreal imagery. There is an interesting use of three distinctive characters colours in the film as the film has animation that makes it look like a weird surreal nightmare. Inside of the tree the film and create psychedelic animation an interesting overlay effects and a good river reflection animation of himself. The film has a good use of parallax animation, as well as cool animation as the characters move on the rotating planet as the shakers destroy rocks in their way. The animation is both minimalist and Psychedelic at the same time. There is also a great shot as they join hands in triangle with showcases a spiritual symbol with different colours creating a face on a sunflower as the three of them make up one entity. There is a great look as they walk together showing three different coloured entities with their different colours reflections as well as animation that at some points looks like a childrens book. There is a great shot where they poke three peep holes out of the wild and peep though it as their eyes become spotlighted as well as great imagery becoming other things. The film has beautiful looking animation some of which is so weird at points it unintentionally becomes a horror film. The film also has a good use of lightning effects as well as cool scene where they use a metal rod to shave.
There is great surreal animation to show normal things like a sord being made from a lightning beard that’s alive as the film has a great combination of serialism and minimalism. The film has a god use of silhouette animation and just a surreal look in general. The film has otherworldly and sexual style to it. The film uses overlays and see-through effects as well as cool animation with the castle getting turned into a glowing ball. The tank animation is good and there is repeated animation in the film, but it is used for artistic effect. There is very interesting unique animation where the tank becomes like a dying animal trapped underground until it is slain in which it becomes a glowing yellow light melting into the front, as the castle becomes an apple which is another cool peace of animation. There is an interesting use of repeated animation as the camera goes into the characters eyes as well as surreal masking overlays. The film has cool preceptive mirror shots as well as blood effect their characters spin around through animation during the creation of one being that is also three sperate begins. The film also has cool imagery of a giant hand at they walk up a landscape and use surreal imagery of a snake.
Son of the White Mare is a good crazy wired over the top film that fans of arthouse and cult cinema will love.