The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
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A traveling theater troupe offers audience members a choice between enlightenment and ignorance through a magical mirror.
The story
The film follows a traveling theater troupe led by the elderly sage Doctor Parnassus. The troupe's main attraction is a portal to a magical 'Imaginarium', a surreal dream world that transforms according to the desires of its participants. This realm offers them a choice between difficult self-fulfillment or easy ignorance. The narrative begins as Parnassus, who has made a deal with the Devil, tries to win souls to secure his daughter's future. When a man with amnesia is rescued and joins the troupe, the group's dynamic shifts as they attempt to modernize their act while navigating the consequences of Parnassus's past bargain.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Doctor Parnassus leads a troupe and offers a portal to the Imaginarium. He is haunted by Mr. Nick, the Devil, who holds his daughter Valentina's soul as collateral for a past bargain for immortality. When a man named Tony Shepard is rescued from a hanging, he joins the troupe. Tony's presence leads to a series of events where various people enter the Imaginarium; some find enlightenment while others choose ignorance. Parnassus reveals his past to Valentina, who is horrified by his deal. After discovering Tony's fraudulent nature as a predator of orphans, a conflict erupts. Tony and Valentina enter the Imaginarium together, where their desires shape the world. Amidst the chaos, Valentina gives her soul to Mr. Nick. To save her, Parnassus makes a new deal with the Devil, eventually tricking Tony into a death that frees Valentina's soul but leaves Parnassus stranded in the Imaginarium. Years later, a transformed Parnassus finds a now-happy Valentina in London, and he continues his work with his companion Percy.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; Canada; France
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Terry Gilliam
- Writers
- Terry Gilliam · writer; Charles McKeown · writer
- Cast and characters
- Heath Ledger · Tony Shepard; Christopher Plummer · Doctor Parnassus; Verne Troyer · Percy; Andrew Garfield · Anton; Lily Cole · Valentina; Tom Waits · Mr. Nick; Johnny Depp · Tony (first transformation); Jude Law · Tony (second transformation); Colin Farrell · Tony (third transformation)
- Genres
- fantasy
- Themes
- imagination; consequences of personal choices
- Tone and mood
- darkly beautiful; surreal
- Premise and plot tags
- fantasy; magical realism
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 64% · scale: percentage · review count: 197
- Production trivia
- The film was intended to be a 'love letter' to Heath Ledger.; The character of Tony was based on former British prime minister Tony Blair.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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