MirrorMask
| Mirror Mask | |
|---|---|
One-sheet promotional poster.
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| Directed by | Dave McKean |
| Produced by | Simon Moorhead |
| Screenplay by | Neil Gaiman |
| Story by | Neil Gaiman Dave McKean |
| Starring |
Stephanie Leonidas Jason Barry Rob Brydon Gina McKee |
| Music by | Iain Ballamy |
| Cinematography | Tony Shearn |
| Edited by | Nicolas Gaster |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by |
Samuel Goldwyn Films (USA) Tartan Films (UK) |
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Release date
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September 30, 2005 |
|
Running time
|
101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million |
| Box office | $867,000 (United States) |
Mirror Mask (stylized as MirrorMask) is a 2005 fantasy film designed and directed by Dave McKean and written by Neil Gaiman from a story they developed together, starring Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon, and Gina McKee. The music used in the film was composed by Iain Ballamy.
The film's story revolves around a young girl named Helena Campbell, who is sick of her family's career as circus performers. Helena's mother is hospitalized after they have an argument, and Helena finds herself trapped in a fantasy world shortly after.
Gaiman and McKean worked on the film concepts over the course of two weeks at Jim Henson's family's home, and actual production of the film took seventeen months. Created on a budget of $4 million, the film was originally made as a straight-to-DVD film, but had a limited theatrical run in the United States on September 30, 2005, resulting in a domestic theatrical gross of $867,000. The film was also screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival where it received positive responses. The overall critical reaction to the film was mixed, with critics praising the film's visuals while complaining about the overall story and script.
Helena (Stephanie Leonidas) works with her parents (Gina McKee and Rob Brydon) at their family circus, but desires to run away and join real life. At the next performance, after Helena and her mother have a heated argument, Helena's mother collapses and is taken to the hospital. Ten days later, while Helena is staying with her grandmother, she finds that the doctors determine that Helena's mother requires an operation, and Helena can only blame herself for the situation. That night, she wakes up in a dream-like state and leaves her building to find three performers outside. As they try to perform for Helena, a shadow encroaches on the area and two of the performers are consumed by it. The third performer, Valentine (Jason Barry), a juggler, helps to quickly direct Helena to safety through the use of magical flying books. She learns they are in the City of Light which is slowly being consumed by shadows, causing its widely varied citizens to flee. Soon Helena is mistaken for the Princess. She and Valentine are taken to the Prime Minister (Brydon). He explains that the Princess from the Land of Shadow stole a charm from the City of Light, leaving their White Queen (McKee) in a state of unnatural sleep and the City vulnerable to the Shadows. Helena notes the resemblance of the Queen and Minister to her mother and father, and offers to help recover the charm along with Valentine. They are unaware their actions are being watched by the Queen of Shadows (also McKee) who has mistaken Helena as the Princess of the Land of Shadows.
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