The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More

Synopsis

Acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson adapts four fantastical short stories from Roald Dahl’s short story collection The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More. Told in his typically eccentric and visually stunning style, each story is told in an unconventional manner with bittersweet undertones.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

A colourful and flamboyant tale of ethics, greed and doing what’s right, it follows a man who calls himself Henry and his discovery of a mysterious book about a man who claims he can see anything without the use of his eyes. Henry spends years learning the meditation technique that will allow him to do the same and, once he has mastered this incredible feat, he decides to use his newfound powers for financial gain – but will this thirst for money and power come back to haunt Henry?

The Swan

Narrated in a deadpan style, this short film follows a young boy named Peter Watson, an intelligent boy with a studious fascination for local birds, who is relentlessly bullied by two older, gun-toting children. When their bullying escalates, an incredible, almost unbelievable, event occurs.

The Rat Catcher

In a small English village, a garage owner named Claude recounts a bizarre and unpredictable encounter with a rat catcher that he contacted to take care of a pest problem. Although an expert in his field, the rat catcher resembles a rat himself and his passion for the job leaves Claude, and his employees, feeling more than a little unsettled by his presence and his strange methods. A cautionary tale on why we should not look down on those who are different from us.

Poison

Set in India whilst it was under the colonial rule of Britain, this short centres around a young man who, upon visiting his friend at night, discovers him in bed, unable to move due to a venomous snake that has slithered up onto his stomach. Calling a doctor to help with the situation, tensions soon boil over into madness. What at first seems like a simple, funny farce slowly reveals deeper themes around historical racism and prejudice.