Meaning of life takes odd twists in '$9.99'

A small gem of an animated film, "$9.99" manages to be rich in whimsy and fantastical turns while still rooted in human ground.

The movie follows a variety of people -- each with their own odd and touching story -- who live in an apartment building in Sydney. Done in stop-motion, with expressively painted characters, the film is directed by Israel's Tatia Rosenthal, with a screenplay from the florid imagination of Israeli short story writer Etgar Keret.

The characters are "just folks" who mostly run into decidedly strange situations. A lonely old man is visited by a grumpy homeless angel who's never actually made it to heaven. A young Romeo begins dating a supermodel who likes her lovers surprisingly smooth.

His brother buys a book containing the meaning of life for $9.99, and though we never hear what it is, it does contain the meaning of life. So he buys another book from the company, but discovers it's going bankrupt.

Then there's a little boy who wants an action figure, but his father buys him a piggy bank instead to save up for it, at which point the boy falls in love with the pig's perpetually smiling face. Elsewhere in the building, a resolute stoner who has been dumped by his girlfriend commiserates with three tiny dudes only he can see.

Keret and Rosenthal weave these stories together with such grace that even when they go to the most bizarre and unexpected places they remain touching and revealing.

Although it features a couple of respected names among the voices -- Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia -- "$9.99" is the sort of small film that doesn't even make it to most "art house" theaters anymore since they're filled with movie star fare, which is why it's playing at the new and ferociously innovative Burton Theater in downtown Detroit.

The movie is a gentle wonder, and the Burton deserves applause for presenting it.