REVIEW | Charming short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is Wes Anderson's tribute to Roald Dahl

Henry Sugar, a wealthy man, decides to take on an extraordinary challenge - he wants to master an extraordinary skill in order to cheat at gambling games.

Wes Anderson's style is instantly recognisable and frequently parodied, but remains inimitable. Most viewers can list the basic building blocks of his style: symmetrical and centred shots, careful framing, detailed composition, deadpan tone, listless characters, etc. However, he has a special touch that no one else has.

Some viewers may roll their eyes at his aesthetic dedication, but it's clear Anderson is doing it for himself. He is one of the few filmmakers who can be fully self-indulgent and still deliver a master stroke - his short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is the latest example.

Anderson has already made a 2023 feature film, Asteroid City, but the Moonrise Kingdom director has been busy. Netflix recently made his latest work available, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, which is adapted from the Roald Dahl short story.

Dahl's tale departed from his typical output in that it was aimed at an older audience. This isn't the first time Anderson has adapted a Dahl story; 2009 saw his stop-motion adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox. Henry Sugar features a stellar, but small cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley and Richard Ayoade. They perfectly capture the short film's off-beat and dry tone.

The film features a narrative approach familiar to Anderson's work, where he has stories within stories. At the first layer, we have Ralph Fiennes playing Roald Dahl, introducing us to Henry Sugar's story. Then, Henry Sugar, a wealthy man who enjoys gambling, relates his story to the audience. One day, he picks up a doctor's report titled "The Man Who Sees Without Using His Eyes". The doctor who wrote the book then tells the story of a patient who had an incredible gift that is aptly described in his report's title. In the doctor's report, the patient also tells his own story. Sugar then uses the report to become a highly successful gambler.

The story moves swiftly and is narrated by each of the characters. They narrate at such a speed that they sometimes don't pause for a breath. Characters narrate their own actions in the third person, which creates a humorous effect.

The short elicits a vintage feel, with its use of film grain, a pastel colour palette and preference for physical effects. The short is also play-like in its visual execution. The props and setting aren't meant to be realistic, but instead pretty. The film is openly a tribute to Dahl himself, featuring a detailed recreation of his study. 

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is Anderson at his most playful and relaxed; its charm is inescapable. It is a real treat to fans and even the uninitiated. Despite its clinical approach to storytelling, Anderson's loving, artistic touch has created a brief and comforting experience.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: