A Magical Journey to the Faraway Tree
For many, the joy of childhood stories transcends generations. While some beloved classics may struggle to recapture their original charm on screen, Enid Blyton’s enchanting tales of the Faraway Tree have made a triumphant leap to the big screen with The Magic Faraway Tree. This adaptation, helmed by television veteran Ben Gregor and penned by Simon Farnaby, a writer renowned for his work on Paddington 2, masterfully bridges the gap between Blyton’s 1940s narratives and a contemporary audience. The result is a “smashing job,” a delightful cinematic experience that appeals to both children and adults.
The film boasts a stellar cast, with Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield leading the charge. Their characters, Polly and Tim Thompson, find their comfortable city life upended when Polly, an inventor of talking appliances (keep an ear out for her fridge!), quits her job on principle. They relocate their three children to a rustic, remote barn, hoping to foster a connection with nature. This transition proves challenging for their offspring. The eldest, Beth, is a sullen teenager preoccupied with societal critiques, while Joe, the middle child, is glued to his gaming devices. These modern preoccupations might have baffled Blyton herself, though she would likely recognise the imaginative spirit of the youngest, Fran.
Fran, originally named Fanny by Blyton, is an elective mute whose vivid imagination is soon recognised by Silky the fairy, played by Nicola Coughlan. While her parents are overjoyed when Fran begins to speak again, they are unaware of the magical catalyst. Silky introduces Fran to an enchanted Faraway Tree in the nearby woods, a place of wonder and peril.
As fans of the books will remember, this extraordinary tree is home to a host of fantastical creatures. Moonface, brought to life by Nonso Anozie, the Saucepan Man portrayed by Dustin Demri-Burns, Mr Watzisname played by Oliver Chris, and Dame Washalot, a role taken by Jessica Gunning, are all present. The tree’s ability to transport its inhabitants to a series of ever-changing lands – including a land of spells, a land of goodies, and a land where everything is back-to-front – provides ample opportunity for delightful cameos from luminaries such as Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, and Simon Russell Beale.
Meanwhile, back on the ground, Tim is pursuing his own entrepreneurial dreams, aiming to commercialise his homemade tomato pasta sauce. His venture, however, becomes intertwined with the fantastical events unfolding at the top of the Faraway Tree. While the details remain a delightful secret, the film is a “whopping endorsement” for a production brimming with “enormous charm.” It evokes echoes of classic children’s films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
The film’s wholesome appeal is cleverly balanced with moments of genuine darkness. Rebecca Ferguson delivers a chilling performance as the villainous headmistress Dame Snap, and Jennifer Saunders is formidable as the children’s stern, Teutonic grandmother. However, unlike the truly terrifying Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the film avoids anything that might give young viewers nightmares. Perfectly timed for the holidays, The Magic Faraway Tree is an “oak-solid family treat.”
Splitsville: A Comedy of Marital Misadventures
In a different vein, Splitsville harkens back to the sex and relationship comedies of the 1960s and 70s, reminiscent of films like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Written by Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino, and directed by Covino, the film stars Marvin and Covino as best friends Carey and Paul, whose respective marriages to Ashley (Adria Arjona) and Julie (Dakota Johnson) are put to the test.
The film ambitiously explores the complexities of ‘open’ marital relationships with a jaunty, slapstick approach. While the humour is described as “hit and miss” and the film never quite reaches the comedic heights its writers seem to envision, it maintains an engaging pace. The script, featuring jokes referencing Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Malcolm Gladwell, Meatloaf, and the Tom Cruise vanity project Vanilla Sky, certainly offers a diverse range of comedic fodder.
A Week of Cinema: Horror, Cults, and Stalinist Terror
This week’s cinematic offerings also include a trio of films spanning the horror, thriller, and historical drama genres.
They Will Kill You (15, 94 mins)
Following in the wake of other recent horror releases, They Will Kill You is a comedy-horror that struggles to maintain its suspense. What begins as a moderately suspenseful story quickly devolves into “abject silliness.” Zazie Beetz stars as Asia, a woman seeking to reconnect with her estranged sister after a decade of imprisonment following an attempt on her abusive father’s life. Her search leads her to a grand Manhattan hotel controlled by a sinister cult.
Asia, portrayed as a capable protagonist akin to Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill films, finds herself confronting a host of unsettling characters, including those played by Patricia Arquette and Tom Felton. However, the film’s “preposterous” violence and “ropey CGI” undermine any serious cinematic aspirations, leaving director Kirill Sokolov’s vision appearing “deluded.”
Two Prosecutors (12A, 118 mins)
In stark contrast, the Russian-language film Two Prosecutors offers a “gripping, powerful, and unsettling” experience. Set in the Soviet Union in 1937, at the height of Stalinist terror, the film, brilliantly directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, was a standout at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it rightfully earned an award. While much of the film’s violence is implied rather than explicit, its impact is profound.
The narrative centres on a young, principled state prosecutor who discovers that his commitment to justice is no match for a corrupt regime where “experts are substituted by ignorant charlatans.” The film’s themes resonate strongly, inviting modern-day parallels and prompting reflection on the enduring nature of power and corruption.
All these films are currently showing in cinemas.
