Nina Star

Nina Star is a curated journey through the surreal and mechanical imagination of Ladislas Starewitch, the pioneer of puppet animation. This anthology bridges four distinct works produced between 1921 and 1927, all centered around the presence of Jeanne Starewitch—the director's daughter and muse. As Nina, she navigates worlds where live-action innocence meets the uncanny movements of stop-motion insects, birds, and scarecrows. The collection moves from the rustic, slightly haunting folklore of 'The Scarecrow' to the sophisticated, hand-colored dreamscapes of 'The Queen of the Butterflies.' It is not merely a compilation of shorts; it is a document of a family business that turned household materials and insect carcasses into high art. Nina serves as the emotional anchor, a human girl lost in a clockwork universe, making the impossible feel tangible through her interactions with her father's intricate, often grotesque, creations.