Riddle of Fire

Direct from Cannes comes a charming, lo-fi fantasy caper for adults and children alike that’s destined for cult status.

Hazel, his brother Jodie and their friend Alice, who call themselves “The Three Reptiles”, want to spend the day gaming. But first, Hazel and Jodie’s mother insists they must fetch her a blueberry pie. What seems like a simple errand becomes a monumental quest across the North American West, setting off a wild tale with as many obstacles as the videogame the trio actually wanted to play. Soon, the Reptiles must face off against the Enchanted Blade Gang led by witch Anna-Freya Hollyhock before they can find their way home.

Ostensibly a paean to childhood imagination, Weston Razooli’s comic odyssey is a coolly nostalgic, irreverent riff on beloved coming-of-age and magic tropes. Shot in hyper-saturated 16mm, the film has an impressive otherworldly quality that harks back to the golden age of kids’ adventure films – The Goonies, Stand by Me and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – impressively combining its dry wit with charming sincerity. Strange and playful, Riddle of Fire is sure to evoke Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut and even recent festival favourite Cryptozoo (MIFF 2021).