"Tale of Tales" is a Fairy Tale Not Meant for Kiddies (Trailer)

While the first international trailer for Tale of Tales is thin in terms of plot points, dialogue or big set pieces, it still manages to give the viewer a pretty good idea of what to expect – style and lots of it. Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s English language debut looks to be heavy on the panache according to its definitely NSFW trailer, which ambles along through a series of visually-appealing snippets all set to a serene operatic score.

If you're not familiar with the Pentamerone, the book of Italian short stories by Giambattista Basile that Tale of Tales is based on, it’s an anthology of three stories detailing the lives of rival monarchs in a world of magic and monsters. The fairy tale a-la-Grimm roots are evident in the trailer, blending dreamlike qualities with some stark brutality, just like any good fairy tale of old.

Tale of Tales boasts an impressive cast, headlined by Salma Hayek as a queen who’s first seen chowing down Jason Goes to Hell style on what is later revealed to be the heart of some type of dragon. Tale of Tales also stars John C. Reilly as her doomed king, Vincent Cassel as a dashing, philandering rival monarch and the always-great Toby Jones as a guy with a giant pet flea.   

Tale of Tales premiered back in the Spring at Cannes and its US distribution rights have been snatched up by IFC according to Variety, though there’s no word yet on how or when it will come to our fair shores.