Alice In Wondertown (1990/Cuban Masterworks Collection/First Run DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: C-     Film: C-

 

 

Any comedy that references a classic had better be able to back it up and in the case of Daniel Diaz Torres’ Alice In Wondertown (1990), tries to mix politics and allusions to the book.  The results may have been controversial in the oppressive communist nation of Cuba where it was made, but the flipside is that it is so self-amused by its neurotic tendencies that any points get lost in a madness that really says little.

 

The “Wondertown” is a small town she visits and has an affect on while it itself is in a sort of absurdist condition that only becomes more so as she travels around.  To mock the idea of communist work-as-good-for-the-state propaganda is commendable, but being subversive and consistently so takes more than just a repetitive act and it was pulled by Castro.  It is commendable, but a short film would have had the same result, though we’ll see what happens if Castro’s eventual passing leads to any rediscovery.  I just never thought the metaphors worked.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is from a scratched print (it is fortunate they were not all destroyed) with haziness and detail issues throughout among other things.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is simple stereo at best, with dated sound and both seem at least a generation down.  Extras include a paper pullout with more text on the film and short film Paul Kopinzky (by Malte Ollroge at 1.85 X 1) on the DVD.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo