Summary
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.
Synopsis
This composite film brings together four films featuring Nina Star, produced between 1921 and 1927 by Wladyslaw and his eldest daughter, Irene Starewitch. Jeanne, the younger daughter of Ladislas and Anna Starewitch embodies Nina Star, the heroine of this program. The films are The Scarecrow (1921), Midnight Wedding (1921), The Voice of the Nightingale (1925), and The Queen of the Butterflies (1927).