Puppets flesh out mythical tale

Strings is an old-fashioned revenge tale with a few surprises in store. What lifts the film above the ordinary is its performers: dozens of marionette puppets.

The puppets speak and fight with an expressiveness which surpasses that of many human performers. Their faces and bodies are beautifully crafted and their movements - masterfully manipulated by experienced puppeteers - are elegant. The marionettes bear a closer resemblance to humans than wooden toys.

The Danish film follows the adventures of Prince Hal, who is misled by his evil uncle into embarking on a dangerous mission to kill the Zeriths - his family's arch-rivals.

Told that the undertaking is to avenge the death of his father - the king of the city Hebalon - Hal is kept from the fact that the king took his own life in order to redeem his sins.

During his journey, Hal falls for a Zita, a mysterious girl who teaches him about love and also the painful truth of his legacy - the proud kingdom of Hebalon is built on the evil ways of his father, who massacred the Zeriths, seized their homeland and forced them into exile many years ago.

The film's first half is slow, but it gradually gathers pace and builds up to a breathtaking finale which features a stand-off between Hebalons and the Zeriths.