Tales of the Night 2012

In a charming and rustic environment, a trio of storytellers—a seasoned cinema technician alongside two daring performers—unfold their artistry each evening in a quaint, cozy theater. As dusk descends, they convene to meticulously orchestrate their roles for the night’s tale, selecting an era, a location, and costumes with utmost precision. The technician, a wellspring of knowledge, supplies a wealth of resources that ignite their creativity, helping them to design unique costumes and props using an advanced computer-controlled machine.

As the curtains rise, the audience is whisked away to Medieval Europe, where a poignant story of star-crossed love emerges between two sisters entwined in a complex web of passion and deception. Their hearts gravitate toward a prince who harbors a dark secret; unbeknownst to his fiancée, he transforms into a werewolf every full moon. The ambitious older sister, fueled by her lust for power, devises a cunning scheme to exploit this secret, tricking the prince into exposing his true form and snatching away the golden necklace that secures his humanity. With a deft hand, she orchestrates a narrative that convinces the townspeople that the prince has fallen victim to the terrible “wolf of the woods.”

Nevertheless, the younger sister is far from passive. Upon discovering her sibling’s treachery, she rises to the occasion, determined to unveil the deceit, thus restoring their family’s honor.

As the evening progresses, the performers transport themselves to the lush and vibrant landscape of the West Indies, where Tijean encounters a mysterious realm lingering between life and death. Guided by a shadowy figure, he faces a series of daunting trials against formidable foes: a gigantic bee, a sly mongoose, and an ancient iguana. Emerging from his subterranean perils, Tijean finds himself in the opulent court of a king, where his fate entwines with that of the king’s beautiful daughter, Beauty-Not-Knowing, who is to be wed to the highest bidder.

Initially dismissed as unworthy due to his reluctance to vanquish the monsters, Tijean finds himself sentenced to death at the hands of the “big chopper.” The king, seeing an opportunity, assigns him three seemingly impossible tasks while he languishes in a dungeon. Yet, fate smiles upon Tijean as the very creatures he spared—the giant bee, mongoose, and iguana—come forth to rescue him from the brink of despair.

In a somber reflection of ancient Aztec times, the city’s denizens revere the Benefactor, who generously grants gold in exchange for the most exquisite sacrifices. However, a mysterious stranger arrives, distressed by these dark rituals and determined to break the cycle of violence. He fervently believes there exists a way to dismantle the Benefactor’s oppressive reign, yet a dire prophecy warns that if the Benefactor is defeated, the entire city is fated to collapse.

Meanwhile, in a vibrant West African village, a young drummer tirelessly faces the ire of villagers due to his relentless tam-tam. He dreams of unveiling a magic drum capable of enchanting listeners with its spellbinding rhythms. When the boy rescues an elderly wise man, he learns that this sage is the keeper of the coveted drum. The elder entrusts the boy with the instrument but warns that unlocking its true power requires rigorous training. Ultimately, the boy’s newfound talent proves instrumental in defending his village against invaders, ensuring their survival.

Far away, in an enigmatic Tibetan land, a humble servant known for his steadfast honesty strikes an unexpected friendship with the king’s lively steed, Mélongi. When a neighboring monarch arrives with a boastful singing mare, they engage in a wager: if the boy remains truthful and cannot be swayed to deceive, their kingdoms will live in peace. However, the clever visiting king devises a plan, sending his daughter to manipulate the honest young man by fabricating a dire illness that only Mélongi’s heart might mend.

As the saga reaches its zenith, we return to the medieval realms one final time, where the fervent love between Maud and Thibaut flourishes amid the entanglements of royal politics and ancient traditions. Thibaut, the son of an esteemed architect, trains in the arts of construction and design under his father’s trusted ally. Maud, however, finds herself at the mercy of a powerful and tyrannical wizard, whose ruthless ambitions greatly affect her life.

When Maud defiantly rebuffs the wizard’s marriage proposals, he retaliates by imprisoning her within a cold, ominous tower. Undaunted, Thibaut embarks on a perilous mission to rescue her, inadvertently triggering a catastrophic series of events in which the vengeful wizard transforms Maud into a monstrous creature, stripping her of her humanity.

As Maud’s outer form shifts into a beastly guise, Thibaut and his mentor must undertake an extraordinary quest to reclaim her human essence. With the threads of their love hanging precariously in the balance, they confront the malevolent forces that threaten to tear them apart, navigating treacherous landscapes, ancient spells, and the wizard’s formidable magic to restore Maud to her rightful place in the world.