Medieval fiefdoms and dystopian surveillance states were never known as bastions of civil liberties. So when someone had the bright idea of combining the two, it was only a matter of time before an innocent man was framed.
“Nimona” begins with an acknowledgment ceremony that Chaucer could have written. Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is the first soldier in the history of his reign to be knighted without being of noble blood. Everyone agrees that he has earned his position because of his merit and hard work, especially her dreamy boyfriend Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang).
But this isn’t your grandfather’s feudal state: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane’s animated fantasy takes place in a world that splits the difference between “The Canterbury Tales” and “Tron.” Steel swords and armor coexist alongside smartphones and flying machines, and the city-state is governed by medieval customs despite everyone having access to YouTube. A modern practice that hasn’t made its way inside the city walls? Laser safety protocols.
When Ballister kneels before the Queen to be knighted, a laser gun that has been inexplicably planted on him goes off and kills her. Our hero goes from toast of the kingdom to a criminal pariah before he even has time to realize what happened. And this is just the prologue!
Left untitled OR a boyfriend, Ballister can barely find the motivation to clear his good name. This is where Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) comes in. The defiant pink shapeshifter, right? dare call her a monster – she’s been waiting her whole life for an adventure. When he learns that the kingdom’s golden boy has fallen on hard times, he suspects that he may need an aide to help him regain his fascination with him.
While Nimona usually takes the form of a pink-haired pre-teen girl who seems in for a treat when she discovers pop punk, she can transform into anything. Need a giant pink rhino to get you out of jail? It’s the girl you call. Does the situation call for a more nuanced impression of a real person? She can too.
The two unlikely friends team up to prove Ballister innocent, but his burn-it-all ethics collide with his institutionalist sensibilities. Even when the evidence reveals who framed him, the knight won’t speak publicly for fear that he might undermine public trust in the government. He is determined to rebuild her life by following the old rules, while she is convinced that the only way to happiness is to start from scratch.
Imaginary authoritarian rule touches on a multitude of contemporary issues with varying skill. (Homophobia doesn’t seem to be a big deal in this realm, but the regime’s treatment of shapeshifters makes for a convenient allegory.) his calls to look for the little guy.
Ballister isn’t the only rider starting to question the system. Ambrosius is still doing his duty as a loyal servant of the crown, which mainly consists of hunting down his ex-boyfriend and trying to drive him back to prison. But he just can’t think of the idea that the kind soul he fell in love with would kill a queen. As Nimona’s ardor pushes the city’s guardrails to breaking point, the two knights appear well positioned to decide the fate of the monarchy.
“Nimona” unfolds in a storybook animation style that blends ancient and futuristic influences into a singular story. The film is never afraid to follow its characters into dark places, eschewing convenient answers in favor of life’s bittersweet realities. And rather than forcing fans to read between the lines, the gay romance that forms its emotional core has room to flourish in full view.
What could have been a generic piece of standard Netflix fare in less skilled hands ends up being a nuanced membership story that’s slightly less clichéd than one might expect. Ballister’s romance with Ambrosius and his platonic friendship with Nimona play out concurrently, but rest on a single point: every single soul is worth exploring, and no amount of law and order can justify giving up.
Grade: B
“Nimona” is now streaming on Netflix.
