Wicker

The fisherwoman is always ignored by the townspeople. She is a lonely spinster. But one day, watching a wedding in the town where magical wicker eggs help decide who will be next to land a husband, she decides to seek the out the town Basket Weaver (Peter Dinklage) a serious wicker specialist. He seems able to make anything and make some very strange things happen with the strands of wood he  arranges. But can he make a husband for the Fisherwoman?

This Basket Weaver got help from Costume Designers Tóth András Dániel and Attila Godena-Juhász collaborating with Special effects by WETA Workshop (Lord of the Rings and Avatar) out of New Zealand. They used new technology to create a real wicker suit with 50 interlocking parts. 95% of the materials were made on a 3D printer, then polished and painted. 

For the Wicker Man’s face, they used a spandex mask with 13 individual pieces, ears, lips, eye bags, a chin and lip pieces. It was like a puzzle made with actual wicker stitched onto the spandex suit, including his wig and eyelashes. His eye lids were even tattooed like wicker weave. Every strand was a slightly different colored shade like real basketry that had to line up, just so. The real basketmakers were from Wētā FX out of New Zealand led by Joe Dunckley. He started as an extra on Lord of the Rings. He and Sarah Rubano (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe) spent 18 months bringing this Wicker Man to life. 

Skarsgard only saw the costume 3 days before they started filming and you’d think it would have been a long and difficult process  to get into and maneuver. The actor said it took less than 2 hours per day! His costumers said Skarsgård was all in and even “funny” as they transformed him. The most amusing discussion was about how many chest or body nipples he should have. They started with 4 but landed on just 2 twisted ones. Skarsgård actually saved the extras as a souvenir. 

Olivia Colman transforms emotionally from mean old fisherwoman to a hopelessly in love and totally dedicated wife in their touching and passionate relationship. Here cunning smiles turn to pure joy with her new husband. It’s a very emotional as well as physical role. The more passionate they go at it loudly in bed, the funnier and wilder it gets, particularly when the bed breaks! 

Writer/Directors Huston Fischer and Wilson added a character to this fable that wasn’t in Willis’ original short story. Elizabeth Debicki (Widows) is the Tailor’s Wife. Elizabeth Debicki found it interesting to play this envious meanie jealous of the glorious love the Fisherwoman found with the Wicker Man. She desperately wants to open her own dress business against the wishes of her tailor husband and is so jealous of the passionate relationship the Fisherwoman has with her Wicker Man, the two woman go off on each other.

This fanciful, funny, fairy tale, laced with lust, has what it takes to makes us all feel better. Colman and Skarsgård are delightfully randy and romantic in what could be The Princess Bride for a new generation. This Wicker sticks with you.

Black Bear Pictures    1 Hour 45 Minutes         R