Once Within a Time is a hazy, twisted fairy tale—that’s somehow instantly recognizable.
Its moviemakers are scared about how now, within our time, technology hijacks our every thought and action. So as a sort of prayer and last laugh, they’ve created an hour-long play for us to consider.
The images are nightmarish and lush, but we get the picture. Our story began with mother nature’s song; then a face appeared, one that smiled and engaged us and offered us something shiny. And of course, we took the bait.
Now we spend our time watching grotesquely-shaped characters dance. Adults (in age only) wither away in digital cages, too scared to interact with the tangible world that gave them life.
And so, this movie is a trip. It’s an uncomfortable and sobering and striking incarnation of what we’re all feeling these days: Something is wrong.
