this animated short comments on free will in modern society through the creation of an intricate machine-operated world in which the characters - impeccable re-creations of antique tin wind-up toys - are pulled along predetermined tracks.
no computer-generated gimmickry here. the puppets created for "paradise" are incredible - created using the same process that was used to make tin toys in the 1950s. 5 main puppets were built, each hand-painted with its own distinct character and hinged at key joints to allow movement. as well there are cars, bicycles, and an entire environment consisting of home, office, and suburban outdoors. the technical achievement here is amazing.
while the visual style is very different, the themes explored here are similar to rosensweet's earlier film "the stone of folly," which premiered at the cannes festival and screened at festivals around the world and is also well worth watching. both are must-sees for any fan of stop-motion animation.
