Bunny and the Bull (2009)
By: Paul King (writer, director)
Starring: Edward Hogg, Simon Farnaby, Verónica Echegui
A young shut-in takes an imaginary road trip inside his apartment, based on mementos and memories of a European trek from years before.
I absolutely love The Mighty Boosh. Funnily enough, Bunny and the Bull was a completely arbitrary viewing choice for me today. Imagine my delight in discovering it’s Paul King’s feature film debut and features much of The Mighty Boosh cast. As could be expected, the movie is whimsical and irreverent, but goes one step further and weaves a moving story beneath.
There’s layers upon layers to Bunny and the Bull, more than I could go into here, certainly more than I can pick out in a single viewing. The stylized art direction is superb, both fanciful and yearning as the protagonist recalls his adventures and sinks further into mental illness. What a strange and wonderful trip it is, imbued with covert impact you’re unaware of until the end. I think it’s Paul King’s particular way of telling stories that keeps the film light and unpretentious, and overall it’s a stunning debut.
