Written in his new language Zarvox, Damien Holt’s much-hyped Fruntlar: A Zarvoxian Love Story premiered last night at the Leicester Square Odeon to what could be generously described as “bewildered applause.” Audience members staggered out into the night muttering things that may have been in Zarvox or simply the verbal aftermath of mild concussion.
Below is a collection of early reviews:
The Whitby & Berwick Times , ★☆☆☆☆
“Imagine Casablanca, but every word is replaced with a sound like a broken vacuum cleaner inhaling through a harmonica. The cinematography is beautiful, but I cannot in good conscience recommend a film that made me leave the cinema feeling as though my inner ear had been reprogrammed.”
The Liverpudlian Guardian , ★★☆☆☆
“A bold, uncompromising experiment in language and love. Unfortunately, without subtitles, the viewer must rely on tone, facial expressions and the occasional interpretive eyebrow semaphore. After 127 minutes, I wasn’t quite sure whether someone had just died or just really disliked soup.”
Filmic Magazine , ★★★☆☆
“There is something hypnotic about the guttural crescendos and whistling sibilants of Zarvox, particularly in the rain-soaked spoon-fight scene. However, I could have done without the 14-minute unbroken shot of two characters chanting the word for ‘fish’ until they passed out.”
Rotten Tangerines Audience Comment
“I took my girlfriend to see Fruntlar. As a linguist she loved the film and is now studying Zarvoxian for three hours everyday. She learns in a fully immersive way and will only converse with me in Zarvoxian, so now I have to learn it too. Thanks a lot Damien.
Local Blogger , ★½☆☆☆
“Halfway through, a man behind me shouted, ‘Speak English!’ and a group of Holt’s devoted students responded in unison with a nasal consonant cluster that made him drop his popcorn. It was the most dramatic moment of the night.”
Damien Holt’s Official Response
“Art is about provoking emotion, and if confusion is an emotion, then Fruntlar is already the most successful film in history.”
Award season will soon be with us. It will be interesting to see if Fruntlar wins any prizes.
