The Forbidden Room (2015)

In this non-linear amalgamation, submarine crewmen and a woodsman wend their way through a voyage of odd experiences.

Directors:

Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson (co-director)

Writers:

Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson

Stars:

Roy Dupuis, Clara Furey, Louis Negin

4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roy Dupuis	...	Cesare
Clara Furey	...	Margot
Louis Negin	...	Marv / Smithy / Mars / Organizer / Mr. Lanyon
Udo Kier	...	Count Yugh / The Butler / The Dead Father / Guard / Pharmacist
Gregory Hlady	...	Jarvis / Dr. Deane / A Husband
Mathieu Amalric	...	Thadeusz M___ / Ostler
Noel Burton	...	Wolf / Pilot / The Captain
Geraldine Chaplin	...	The Master Passion / Nursemaid / Aunt Chance
Paul Ahmarani	...	Dr. Deng / Speedy
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Gong
Jacques Nolot	...	Bent / Minister of the Interior
Slimane Dazi	...	Baron Pappenheim
Maria de Medeiros	...	The Blind Mother / Clotilde
Charlotte Rampling	...	The Ostler's Mother
Victor Andres Turgeon-Trelles	...	Saplingjack 1 / Listening Man / Pancho (as Victor Andrés Trelles Turgeon)

Storyline

A never-before-seen woodsman mysteriously appears aboard a submarine that's been trapped deep under water for months with an unstable cargo. As the terrified crew make their way through the corridors of the doomed vessel, they find themselves on a voyage into the origins of their darkest fears.

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Plot Keywords:

submarine | trash | bathing | missing captain | flapjack | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This project was originally conceived to be a series of stand-alone short films. The only way Guy Maddin was able to receive enough funding was to string some of them together into a feature.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Marv: Hello. I'm Marv. Today, we're gonna discuss baths - more specifically, how to take one. Baths have been around for a long time. The ancient Romans built fancy ones, like Caracalla. In the Middle Ages, the were called "stews"... 'cause you had to be stewed in order to take one. They were open to both sexes. Today, the Japanese have bisexual bathing
[winks]
Marv: . Here in America, we didn't bathe so much until recently. The Saturday-night bath used to be a ritual. Today, it's more like ...

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Connections

Featured in 2016 Canadian Screen Awards (2016)

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Soundtracks

Wall Of Ice
Written by John Gurdebeke

User Reviews

A true vision - or series of them

I've seen at least four, maybe more, Maddin films, and this was my favorite thusfar. That said if you read the main tag here, or the griping reviews, yeah it's a non-linear film.

The other thing for me is the flickering processing of his films, can be hypnagogic for me. This one in particular reminded me of the fact that a Berkeley professor has been working on visually capturing peoples dreams (but as I recall his methods are extremely crude). Maddin here with help from former student Evan Johnson, has a more refined dream-like feel, things seemed more rough-hewn in his earlier films, and while this still has warps, twists and bleeds visually, it just looked cleaner overall.

But the pulsing images/colors, they are tough on the small screen, and honestly I did watch this over two nights.

People who feel David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" reunion tours were a disappointment, might like this film (and others from Maddin). Or Udo Kier fans. Or people who like a vague thread of thrillers (trapped underseas in a submarine, or stalked by an Aswang - Filipino vampire). But again anything resembling a story is at best a flavor, although there are vignettes packaged in the nearly two hour long work.

But stuff does resurface, even if the submarine may not. Baths, as led off fantastically by "Marv" (Maddin favorite, Louis Negin). Actors are used/reused, silent movie subtitles share time with "talkies." Monsters and Valcano (sic) sacrifice....

While I understand some folks are put off, perhaps do a little research and maybe watch the trailer, I for one applaud Maddin's dedication to his vision.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 2015 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

The Forbidden Room

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$34,404

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,082

Company Credits

Production Co:

Phi, Buffalo Gal Pictures, Kidam

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1