Written by Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney
Directed by Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney
Starring Kentucker Audley, Albert Birney, Penny Fuller and Reed Birney
Running time 1 hour and 31 minutes
Now on Blu-ray from Music Box Films

by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief and Old Sport

“Because it is a dream movie you can put anything you want in it…” -Albert Birney

Are you overwhelmed with the amount of flicks that are out in there in the world? Want to know what’s inside before you make the commitment to a physical media purchase? Fret no more movie pals… let us crack the case! Welcome to your favorite neighborhood virtual video store. Think of this as a staff picks shelf where we select film releases that are worth opening your wallet for in a new column entitled: DISC DISPATCH!

Synopsis of Strawberry Mansion per Letterboxd
In the not-too-distant future, an all-seeing surveillance state conducts “dream audits” to collect taxes on the unconscious lives of the populace. Mild-mannered government agent James Preble travels to a remote farmhouse to audit the dreams of Arabella “Bella” Isadora, an eccentric, aging artist. Entering Bella’s vast VHS archive, which contains a lifetime of dreams, Preble stumbles upon a secret that offers him a chance at love and hope for escape.

Find the full review from MJ’s Hunter Bush here.

What features makes it special?

Audio commentary from writers/directors
Deleted and extended scenes
Making of Strawberry Mansion featurette
Test Footage and animation
Music Video
Watercolor and collage gallery
Short films by Albert Birney
A set of trading cards!

Why you need to add it to your video library…

Besides the film being a unique viewing experience that strays from the standard fare, the reason to buy this disc post haste is the trading cards. There is only one other recent disc release that comes to mind that involved something of this card caliber and it was the Criterion edition of Nightmare Alley (1947). To honor the famed noir, each disc is packaged with a a set of artistic tarot cards that pay tribute to the film. I adore details like this and these little extras make owning a physical film release feel so much more special.

In addition to the zany Strawberry Mansion character cards, I found the “making of” featurette to add value. It is extremely thorough and provides insight into the filmmakers process of bringing this magical world to the silverscreen. By the end, it was easy to see how Albert and Kentucker brought out the best in one another to achieve a wonderfully quirky motion picture. Each brings their own strengths to the table. For Kentucker, it is working with the actors and story, while Albert focuses more on the visual aspects such as props, costumes, and animation. As a filmmaker myself, that also works with a partner, I found it to be quite encouraging to see what they were able to accomplish in terms of production design, costuming, and props on such a small budget. It was also wonderful to see that without combining their powers, they would have not been able to pull off a film like this otherwise.

Another highlight was being able to catch up with two of Albert Birney’s short films. The standout for me was Buzzer. A miniature tale about a fly trying to live the simple life in their big city apartment. By the end of the film there was no question Birney has an appreciation for the small things. With a sprinkle of his imagination and fondness for the intricate details, he creates magic on the screen. After watching Buzzer, it is clear that his affinity for utilizing the visual medium to showcase the bizarre and the surreal has only gotten more outlandish in the most absolutely best way possible.

Strawberry Mansion is now available on Blu-ray here.