A Bug's Life

Strings was lovely. It's a fairytale, young prince sets out to avenge his father's death at the hands of the enemy, with evil uncles and true love and the like, done entirely with puppets. It is different in that the puppets are aware of what they are; the strings can be seen in every scene, and their world is developed around the limitations of strings which stretch up infinitely into the sky. The first few scenes show the old king in his castle, while heavy rain falls. Of course, there can be no roofs in this place, or how could the strings pass? Similarly the jail is a striking image: prisoners are walked along a high-up grid of girders, which looks rather like scaffolding on a tall building; they are pushed into one of the square gaps in the grid and of course can't get out. From ground level, the jail looks like a room full of people - only a couple of body-lengths apart, and free to move within a body-length, they can speak but they can't reach each other.

The puppets' body language is very expressive, it takes three puppeteers to move each character.
Death and birth and medicine (slaves used for spare parts!) are handled in an interesting way, again consistent with the puppet nature.

But now I must get on. Today:
* write APAzine
* walk and deliver cards and return DVDs
* go to London for Half Man Half Biscuit gig
* go downstairs and find out what made that massive "whomp" as it came through the letterbox! EDIT: A box of chocolates from Simon's boss! What a nice thought. He sent Simon a 1-hour phonecard too, which was nice :-) That's looking after your staff. [Not that I can eat them] Also, v. elegant card from ladymoonray - thanks!