The first clip and poster for Wonderstruck, based on Brian Selznick's critically-acclaimed novel of the same name, have been officially released today, and it's shaping up to be one of this year's most promising awards contenders. The film also marks the return of director Todd Haynes, whose last film, Carol, was one of the most critically beloved movies released in 2015 and garnered the filmmaker even more favor amongst the film community, after an already impressive career of thought-provoking projects.

Re-teaming him with longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, Wonderstruck is set to make its world premiere later this month at the Cannes International Film Festival. In anticipation of the film's premiere, Amazon Studios has released the first official look at the film online today, including a small glimpse into the mesmerizing, unique format that frames all the events and characters within the film itself.

The first clip is completely dialogue-free, and follows two boys, Ben and Jamie (played by Oakes Fegley and Jaden Michael) as they chase each other through a museum, stopping occasionally to look at some of the exhibits. It's a fairly straightforward clip until it suddenly cuts back in time to a black and white segment following Rose (Millicent Simmonds), a girl around the same age as both Jamie and Ben. You can check out the clip for yourself in the space above, along with the film's official poster down below:

For those who might be a bit confused by the sudden time and format jump displayed in the clip, it should be known that Wonderstruck takes place during two different times in history. It follows Ben (Fegley), during the modern day as he looks for the father he's never met, and Rose (Simmonds) in the past, as she chronicles the life of a mysterious actress. Both kids dream of living better lives, and when they stumble upon enticing new clues that may lead to answers for both of their problems, they embark on separate quests that unfold with mesmerizing symmetry.

Already, Wonderstruck looks to be yet another spellbinding hit for Haynes as well. In addition to the film's stunning cast, which features impressive names like Moore and Michelle Williams, it also reunites him with cinematographer Edward Lachman and composer Carter Burwell, who he worked with on Carol. Both of their contributions are evident in this clip, with Lachman's cinematography crafting gorgeous compositions out of each frame, and Burwell's atmospheric score adding a tinge of melancholy to whatever is taking place. Similar to Carol, the film is starting its path to a theatrical release with a Cannes world premiere, and if it has even a modicum of the success that Haynes' predecessor did, Wonderstruck may very well just be yet another opportunity for Haynes to cement his place as one of the best filmmakers working today.

Source: Amazon Studios

Key Release Dates

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  Wonderstruck

  Release Date:

  2017-10-20