Sounds between the Crowns is a medieval tale that teaches us a lot about solidarity and difference. Using classical themes – the princess dreams of meeting the love of her life, and the musician is treated like Quasimodo, some kind of strange beast -, this short film by Czech director Filip Diviak explores and deconstructs the world he portrays. Travelling from town to town to share his art, the troubadour is met by prejudice because he is different. Faced with this superficiality and the class divide, he is forced to flee the town and seek shelter in the forest, like so many others before him (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the Wolfwalkers, and Brendan in The Secret of Kells). Here the denizens of the forest become his allies, and nods abound to other well-known works. Soon the hero is at one with the forest, as trees, plants and animals dance to his lovely tunes. Thus, Sounds between Crowns poses questions about how we find our place, and while doing so weaves a real ode to nature, a realm for sharing and for finding true meaning.
Just like in Cloudy, the director’s first film, the humour is in the details: such as the valet driving a carriage with a tower on top, the ‘best homeless person’ cup and the curious flying creature that makes surprising sounds. Filip Diviak always succeeds in using imagery to convey deep emotions, like when the princess’s heart deflates when she sees the musician’s face. With its fine and soft lines, the inventive and expressive animation matches the music. And although there are no words, the Celtic tones transmit the message, so narration is not missed. The mandolin, bodhrán and tin whistle make the link, and the music, played from the heart, is cathartic and magical. Thanks to it, the musician is not the only one to go on journey, as the princess quickly learns about consent, respect redemption. The moral of this poetic tale is simple: do not base judgement on appearances, overcome your prejudices.
