Could it be that everything that exists around us is no more than scenery? Plastic flowers, cardboard trees and – worst of all – lavender scented air fresheners! In “Decorado”, Alberto Vazquez, whose individual style as an illustrator and director of animated films is very well-known and highly acclaimed, subverts the world of children’s stories in a kind of existentialist fable told with biting humour, in which the characters are anthropomorphic animals and very often terrifying and sickly. The main character is profoundly troubled and wonders why the scenery is far too pretty for the life he is leading, which is not at all happy. His pragmatic companion explains that whilst it is true that everything around them is scenery, at least it belongs to them. However, the “painted” forest where they live is just a black and white world – in contrast to the usual colourful world of children’s stories – made from cut-outs of prints, including rather dated illustrations and typical 19th century etchings. The group of high-contrast characters add to this surreal story and the total destruction of childhood fantasies and the desire for happiness. But who could be annoyed by the destruction of such an artificial desire? (MM)