In North America, most audiences are used to animated films being exclusively for kids. Of course, that isn’t the case in other parts of the world, where there is plenty of edgier and more adult-oriented animated works. One such example is Ruben Brandt, Collector, an unusual Hungarian effort that has its own distinctive vision that certainly sets it apart from others of its ilk. The feature has its issues, but at least it’s different from most of the animated fare out there.
The story involves psychotherapist Ruben Brandt (Iván Kamarás), a man who suffers from chilling nightmares loosely connected to some of the most famous works of art. His patients, a group of ragtag thieves, including kleptomaniac Mimi (Gabriella Hámori) begin stealing the 13 paintings that haunt their therapist. Hot on their trail is private investigator Kowalski (Zalán Makranczi and Csaba Márton), who begins to harbor feelings for Mimi. Complicating matters are the various museum’s insurance companies, who offer a $100 million reward for the capture of the thieves, inspiring the criminal underworld to get involved.
The concept is a lot of fun as well as the mantra of Brandt, who appears to be utilizing a theory of trying to gain control over one’s personal issues and trauma by literally taking the offending items by any means necessary to cure the affliction. It should be noted, however, that the movie takes a largely interpretive approach to the story. It isn’t as interested in the details of the heists as presenting a stylized animated world. In fact, it focuses almost as much on lead thief Mimi and investigator Kowalski as it does on the title character.
The visuals featured in the film are great. There’s a very amusing theft and car chase early on that spins through the streets. Some of the bigger action-centric moments, including the numerous nightmares experienced by Brandt are impressively surreal and unsettling. This is a movie that heavily incorporates both art and pop culture, so sharp-eyed viewers will see numerous collections, film-related in jokes, and references consistently peppered throughout the feature. While Brandt is the one being haunted, more than one of the characters harbor the same instinct to amass items important to themselves.
While the images themselves are impressive, the movie does lag in sections, with the filmmakers even resorting to montages to get through all of the robberies. Of course, we all know what’s going on, so it hardly seems necessary to spend so much time with Kowalski as he discovers information that viewers already know. And some of the voice-acting sounds monotone and flat. As mentioned, there are many facets and characters to the story and as such it gets a bit distracted with secondary persons. The unfortunate side effect is that it distances viewers from the emotional core of the film. And after all is revealed, the twists don’t make much of an impact.
Still, the movie is definitely different from the norm, and the trippy, nightmarish visuals and kooky heists make it an interesting if imperfect addition. If you’re sick of seeing nothing but Pixar and Disney animation, Ruben Brandt, Collector is a reasonable alternate. It’s unlikely to absorb you emotionally but does offer a pretty montage of odd, dreamlike moments.