Review: The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar

Image courtesy of Netflix.

The first of four short films - although the closest to be a feature in terms of running time - getting released this week that are directed by Wes Anderson and based on the work of author Roald Dahl, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" is the second of the director's triumphs this year, even if the superior "Asteroid City" is the obvious highlight.

The picture's format is the typical jewel-box style of film for which Anderson has become known, and while the story starts off as being one about a cynical character, there's a gentleness that creeps into the proceedings and, by the end, we realize that "Henry Sugar" is a fable of sorts.

As it starts, Ralph Fiennes portrays Dahl, who makes brief mention of how he gets started on writing a story, although he claims that the one to which we are privy here is a true one. Benedict Cumberbatch takes over as the titular character. He and all of the other characters in the film speak directly into the camera, often telling the story, rather than playing it out.

Henry Sugar discovers a book in a library in which he learns of a man (Ben Kingsley) who has trained himself to see without the use of his eyes. Having studied the ways of an influential yogi, Kingsley's character tells two stunned doctors (Dev Patel and Richard Ayoade) how he spent years learning how to focus his mind on one thing - in this case, a candle flame - and how this enabled him to be able to see objects in his path, even when his eyes are closed. The doctors are amazed when they test the man, and this turns out to be true.

Sugar, at first a cynic, finds inspiration in the text, and begins his own journey toward obtaining this rare gift, which he intends to use to cheat at card games in casinos. However, the splendors he amasses as a result are not satisfying for him, so he throws his earnings off his balcony to those on the street below, and decides thenceforth to earn money through cheating for nobler purposes - in this case, opening hospitals for sick children.

At about 38 minutes, "Henry Sugar" is a slight entry in Anderson's oeuvre, and it's not nearly as rich as the recent "Asteroid City," a film that left me pondering for days after seeing it before I decided to see it again. At the same time, it's not a trifle and it manages to yield an effective tale about conscientiousness and human capacity for growth in its relatively short running time. Anderson is set to release three much shorter films based on Dahl's work throughout the week on Netflix. So far, he's off to a good start.