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Rating:  - "If You Believe in Fairies...Clap Your Hands!"
I saw "Fairy Tale - A True Story", when it had it's theatrical release and I was utterly charmed and moved by this wonderful movie. I am so glad that it has finally been released to the DVD format.The story is based upon the true life events surrounding the famous and sensational 'Cottingly fairies photographs'.The film takes place during the dark days of WWI Britain. A young Elsie Wright (Florence Hoath) is sent off to live with relatives, because her father is 'missing in action'.Elsie becomes fast friends with her twelve year old, cousin, Frances (Elizebeth Earl) both of whom seem to have a playful fascination with the subject of fairies. One day the girls borrow an old camera and go off to a local brook to take pictures. When the photographs are later developed, they show images of what seem to be real, live fairies!Through a series of events the photographs fall into the famous hands of Sherlock Holmes Writer, Sir Author Conan Doyle (Pete O'Toole) and Magician & Escape Artist, Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel). Doyle publishes the photographs in a national magazine and causes a sensation throughout the country.Are the pictures real or did these two young girls pull off the hoax of the century? The movie puts it's own twist on the facts and attempts to come up with some very interesting answers.Director, Charles Sturridge and Screen Writer, Ernie Contreras have created a magical and moving film about the subject of faith. Sometimes if you believe in something hard enough, maby it can come true. This is found throughout the film. It applies to everything from the belief in the unseen (such as fairies, spirits of love ones), the return of a father, or even the faith needed to win a brutal war.The acting in this movie is splendid.I especially like the casting of the two girls (Florence Hoath & Elizebeth Earl). Even in the unusual situations, that occur, they both act like normal, everyday, children. Not a false note in their performances.The film's special effects are also great. They are well done and realistic (flying miniature fairies), yet do not overwhelm the story.This is greatly aided by cinematographer , Michael Coulter's beautiful photography, which highlights both the colors found in nature (the woods and brook) and the light and darkness of urban, Victorian England. All these elements come together to make a wonderful fantasy film, which I highly recommend!
Rating:  - Not a "family film" in the modern sense....
I am dismayed at the marketing of this exquisite jewel of a film as "for the entire family", words which invariably mean bland, dumbed-down, filled with alleged values, and lacking in real content. While Fairy Tale only vaguely resembles the true story of the young woman and her little cousin who caused such a stir with the famous photographs, it stands on its own as a story of shared mystery.
The events took place at a time when Western civilisation desperately needed to believe in something beyond itself. The Theosophical movement, forerunner of today's New Age religion, sought scientific proof of a dimension most of us do not see, which they considered non-material, but real. The invention of the telephone, telegraph and photography made it seem as though all sorts of heretofore unproveable things such as life after death could be scientifically (that is, empirically) demonstrated and chronicled. Spiritualist sessions were often called experiments for that very reason. Meanwhile, people like Harry Houdini, who desperately wanted to contact his beloved mother in the next life, kept a reality check by exposing the exploitation of this open-mindedness by phony mediums.
Fairy Tale manages to convey not only some of the feelings of that period in history, but a personal sense of the magic and mystery created by the interweaving minds of two children amidst the natural beauty of a wondrous myth-drenched landscape. The sense of place is overwhelming, creating a longing in the viewer that must remain unfulfilled in the modern world where most of such fairy realms have been destroyed by encroaching development and sprawl. This is not a children's film, although it should by all means be shown to children. It will rest next to Heavenly Creatures on my video shelf, a reminder of possibilities.
Rating: - This movie just gets better each time I see it!
Since the last review I wrote on this film, I would just like to say how wonderful it remains with every viewing! It has continued to remain one of my all-time favorite films and I believe it is because of the amazing cast,the great script,the first rate acting,and an enchanting musical score. This little gem of a movie certainly deserved more success than it received and it is about as perfect a film as I have ever seen. I would have liked to have seen Elizabeth Earl and Florence Hoath in more starring roles because they carried this film from beginning to end and did it beautifully! There is something about this movie that has stayed with me long after I first saw it. The next time you are in your local video store and you are looking for something you might have missed the first time around, rent this one-you won't be sorry!-as for me-I BELIEVE!
Rating:  - Not what I expected
Saw this film in the theatre and was dissapointed there weren't many fairies in it at all. Whenever you do see them the animation is great but it is a rare thing until the very end.
I wasn't too impressed but kids may still enjoy this film
Rating: - My Favorite Movie
This facsinating story of two young girls who take fake photos of fairies are brought to life again in this wonderful movie. When I first saw this movie 4 years ago, it amazed me. You do not have to be a fairy lover to see this movie. Even this story will be of interest to those who are total non-believers. I really reccomend this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll give it 100 stars.
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