Habfürdö

TELOS 

Habfürdö/Bubble Bath

Off-rip I knew that this film would be interesting. The art style behind it I have never seen before. The sloppy line drawn city background with the watercolor pastels slapped on top. As well as the use of focusing the lens. In a cartoon I have never seen this before. Also, as the main character is driving, there are literal raindrops placed on his windshield, I don't even know how you would get this effect onto a cartoon. I’m actually baffled. The cartoon feels psychedelic with the constant color shifting, and the shaky movement of the objects. It feels a bit unsettling. It feels weird watching this, but it also makes more than enough sense. So far, I really like it. The film is also a musical, so it feels like a fever dream. If I was off shrooms I would be going insane. I love this film so far and I am only 5 minutes in. 

The film basically centers around a runaway groom (Zsolt) who has run away to his fiance’s friend (Anni), and has asked her to call his bride to tell her he is not coming to the wedding, and that he wants to elope with Anni because of her beauty. That is really all there is to it. But the cartoon is so outlandish that it was banned for a while in the Hungarian media. It then came back and ever since then the film has been a muse and an inspiration to other cartoons after it.

It is now considered a cult film as well. It was also the director's only long film because shortly afterwards he killed himself. 

As the musical progresses, the styles of drawing change as well. In one scene there can be a mixup of multiple different styles, from Schiele, to Picasso, Heckel, et cetera. Modernis, expressionism, hypermodern, pop art, and other art styles. As well as new angles, wide shots, colors, even 3D elements that have been added on top of the scene to add depth. As well as styles that connect to what the characters are feeling at the time. The film also contains tons of sexual innuendos that are directed towards a more mature audience. This cartoon is not for children, that is forsure. The themes tackle parenting, marriage, alcohol, drugs, eloping, suicide, class differential, age difference, among other things that are just not meant for a young eye. They even conduct real life interviews with parents and then put it into the musical. It was really progressive stuff. The music is also all composed entirely of original pieces. It was also the first time ever the musical composer for this cartoon animation musical was ever hired. The style of music really fits into this ecstatic setting with ever changing visuals and makes the film ever so cohesive. The way the film intertwines in the music, characters, graphics, colors, and themes set it apart from everything I have ever seen. I rate it a 9.5 as I think that it is a great film, but I don’t know if I would show it to everyone. 

Watch the film here: Habfürdö (1980) – rarefilmm | The Cave of Forgotten Films

As well as as some interesting facts: 10 things about Bubble Bath (youtube.com)