Faust is visually engrossing, wonderfully atmospheric and kept me engrossed from start to finish. The puppets are superbly evoca- tive and expressive, and the sets are gorgeously crafted while main- taining a homemade aesthetic that feels timeless. In some respects Ritz-Barr has recreated a German expressionist silent film, relying on suggestion and gesture to convey Faust's inner conflicts and over- all plot. The score reinforces that feel – it's superbly suited to your subject matter and to the visual sensibility of the sets – a vaguely foreboding tone that feels both classical and contemporary.
The synthesizer effects whenever the devil speaks succeed parti- cularly well in expressing evil mixed with otherworldly powers. I do want to note that I loved the framing device of the puppeteer playing the role of demigod. It suggests a bit of Svankmajer and the Quays as well, bringing the creator into the scene inside his homespun studio. This film is a real triumph, and a standing ovation is well deserved. – Stephan London, writer/film critic
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