Nocturna Artificialia

Nocturna Artificialia is a distinctive short animated film brought to life by the brothers Thomas and Stephen Quay in 1979. It is the Quay Brothers’ debut film that firmly established their unique voice and vision within the world of animation. The title, Nocturna Artificialia, bears some anonymity, yet gives curious followers a hint into what the Quay Brothers' work is about. "Nocturna," referring to the night, and "Artificialia" alluding to something artificial or crafted by humans, sets the stage for the eclectic visuals that ensue in this avant-garde film.

Bathed in a cold, pallid glow, the film shirks the use of conventional narrative and dialogue to convey its underlying themes. Instead, the Nocturna Artificialia provides a 21-minute exploration into a nocturnal cityscape that feels surreal yet enchanting. Much like a dream you would wake up from and ponder about, the film continues to resonate long after the initial viewing.

Rendered in stop-motion animation, the monochrome human figures are hauntingly grotesque yet alluring in their own respect. This mysterious setting is a character of its own that silently whispers stories remembered and forgotten. The sense of isolation is prevalent throughout the movie, fueling the eerie ambiance characteristic of work by the Quay Brothers.

Reflective of older European cities cloaked in the somber blanket of night, the film portrays a labyrinthine cityscape, a haunt of ghosts suspended between dimensions of time and space. It's in this realm that the puppets, the film’s unconventional characters, reside, making their way through the checkered realm, often against the force of some unseen wind.

Central to the film is a character who is inquisitive, almost painfully so. The puppet figure spends his time in the shadows of the city, the protagonist of a tale that has no beginning or end. Important to understand is that the character’s journeys and adventures are not to provide answers but to showcase the vast depths of the human psyche. The movie is less about storytelling and more a dance of specters and grotesquery that leaves the viewers to interpret the experience in their own unique ways.

As far as aesthetics go, the Quay Brothers have pioneered a unique style that tends to baffle as much as it impresses. The obscure nature of Nocturna Artificialia is underlined by erratic camera angles that produce a disorienting effect, enhancing the sense of unreality. The attention to minute details in set designs, puppet constructions, and the careful choreography of motion is visually arresting, pulling styles from gothic, surrealism and expressionism.

Integral to the ambiance of the film is the partnership of sound and sight which works its magic into a congruent dance. In the background, dissonant and eerie symphonies blend with muffled city sounds and the soft whispers told by the wind, absorbing the viewer into an immersive landscape.

It would be remiss not to mention the visionary minds behind this captivating movie. As eminent pioneers within stop-motion animation, the Quay Brothers possess an uncanny ability to push the boundaries of the medium. Influenced by Eastern European literature and philosophy, their creative endeavors imbue a sense of the fantastical and curious wrapped in enigmatic packaging. This film marks the beginning of their esteemed career, laying the groundwork for their subsequent experimental animated films.

Nocturna Artificialia, despite its lack of a clearly defined narrative, provokes thoughts and contemplation. A work of craftsmanship, design, and imagination, this movie provides an experience that seems to transcend the norms of conventional cinema. From the labyrinthine cityscape to the surrealist influences, the film transports viewers to a realm where reality and illusion blend into one, a haunting echo in the void. It’s a daring plunge into the depths of animation, heralding the unique vision the Quay Brothers embody. And while it might not appeal to a broad audience, it's a must-watch for those who appreciate the abstract and experimental in the realm of film and animation.