Based on: the Lewis Carroll poem of the same name
Directed and adapted by: Simon Davison
Staring: Ramon Tikaram (Narrator/the Baker) Ralph Arliss (The Bellman) Tim J. Henley (the Bonnet Maker) Tom Wansey (the Butcher) Peter Daw (the Banker) Tristam Kimbrough (the Billard Marker) Nick Mellersh (the Barrister) Jose Barreto (the Boots) Bernard Myers (the Broker) Richard Ecclestone (The Baker's Uncle) Corrinne Furman (Hope)
This UK crowdfunded film, beautifully shot with Victorian style camera lens effects, has been quite a long time coming. Originally funded far before 2020, the filming process took several years and its premiere was delayed due to the pandemic. Snark is the first out of a bulk of Carroll film adaptations in English to release this decade, with others subject to either delays or a somewhat slow move through festival circuits. In that sense, this version of Snark provides an excellent taster. Like upcoming Alices, it is shot on a fairly low budget and is far away from a “Hollywood” adaptation as possible.
For expanding a 70 page or so poem into a 90 minute film, writer and director Simon Davidson makes use of all kinds of tricks, from framing the story as occurring inside the mind of Lewis Carroll himself (more on this later) to visually representing maps, ideas, and illustrations. This second element means on first watch there is almost too much to take in, and I’d advise anyone thinking about watching this to do it twice.
The film is packed with details and references to Carroll’s other works, the Victorian era, and mathematical and philosophical conundrums. Carrollians who are more in tune with these subjects than me will surely adore digging into the various signs and symbols and title cards the film presents its audience with.
The cards, old Victorian organ music, slapstick, sharp angles and camera lens effects will remind you strongly of both Victorian theatre and culture. You will also be reminded of the films of art house directors Terry Gilliam and Jean Pierre Jeunet, whose unreal visual flairs and bizarre humour the film shares somewhat, but never to the point of just solely imitating either director’s style. The music, also by director Davidson, is also exceptional, waltzing between Victorian seaside organs, Carrollian poems, and carnival uneasiness. The end credits piece, mixing spoken word with several of these elements, is impeccable. You will want it on your Carrollian playlist, if you have one!
The loose story, as ever, focuses on a group of people setting off to hunt a mythical being called the Snark, with only a limited idea of what to do if they find it. This version focuses most on the Baker (played by Ramon Tikaram), promoting the character to almost lead status. This also means in terms of adaptation we see flashbacks to his childhood (not just the scene with his Uncle but several severe schoolroom memories) This version also gives him a sort of visionary role. The Barrister’s dream verses are altered in the biggest adaptational change to become about the Baker. Indeed there are multiple dream sequences throughout the film in which the Baker seems to come close to knowing his fate. Tikaram's Baker is a mix of wonder and fear, and the actor plays all sides of the character marvellously.
The rest of the crew fit more in line with their original poem counterparts. Key standouts in the cast are the Bellman (played by Ralph Arliss) and the Butcher (played by Tom Wansey) Because this is an ensemble cast, its difficult to highlight individual actors as the overall affect means there is no weak link in the casting. This version also adds another character, although she a dancer and so is not given any dialogue. A personification of Hope (played by Corrinne Furman) exists on Snark island and her appearances and disappearances indicate the mood of the crew, and often the direction of the narrative.
What makes this version stand out from other Snarks the most is the strange meta twist that occurs halfway through. We are told at the beginning by a narrator, that this will not just be an adaptation, but a “journey into the mind of Lewis Carroll”. What does that mean for the viewer exactly? It means that as well as the poem, we get tiny flashes here and there to the reality of the situation for the poem characters. The Baker, in one of his dreams, catches a glimpse of a shadowy Carroll (played by Avon Flower) in an office which is likely to represent Christ Church. Alice, away from her dream adventures, runs through a corridor like a ghost as Carroll no longer needs her as a character.
Unfortunately, sometimes this strand of the film gives way to rather ill thought out (in my opinion) darker ideas: why does a version of Gertrude Chataway look sadly at Carroll as he passes her on the beach? Is the grief Carroll is suffering with regarding a death in the family affecting the Snark poem? None of these questions are answered, and it is extremely difficult to tell how the film wishes us to feel about this fictionalisation of Carroll. I found this element occasionally difficult to swallow. I can’t know for sure, but this part may unintentionally be playing into mythic ideas, seeing Carroll as a shadowy figure or even a figure of harm (depending if you see the film’s ending as a result of Carroll’s grief being taken out on the poem characters) A friend of mine, whom I watched this film with, also had a similar reaction. It is, however, entirely possible to watch this film and come away with a totally different interpretation of its version of Carroll, and I'm well aware that my interpretation may be entirely false or not what the filmmakers intended!
Overall the film works extremely well as a version of Snark on film, and despite my misgivings with how Carroll himself is incorporated into the narrative, the strength of the Snark island scenes and adaptation balance out any slight disquiet you may feel towards how Carroll is portrayed. I would still recommend it highly. Adapting a near un film-able poem with all the whimsy, darkness, and humour needed is a tough task, and this film mostly succeeds.
The Hunting of the Snark 2023 is currently available to watch in the UK and US via Amazon video.
