Magic Candies/ Klutzy Witch Double Feature at NYICFF 2024

MAGIC CANDIES
World premiering at NYICFF this short film from TOEI Animation is based up upon Heena Baek‘s picture book, The film tells the story of a young lonely boy who loves marbles. Buying a cool bag of them he finds they are actually candy, magic candy. Each candy will give him the ability to speak to or hear something hidden. First his couch talks to him, then his dog… and then… well that would be telling.

Photo realistic backgrounds are mixed with a stylized animation in a little film that may have you tearing up. This is a lovely tale that reals the connections we have to each other, even if they aren’t readily apparent.  I smiled and laughed… and teared up.

The screening was attended by a lot of people connected to the film including director Daisuke Nishio and author Heena Baek who wrote the book.  The Q&A was a joyous event and the kids asked some good questions (see it here - though I bounced my camera, again, so it's better as radio).

They also brought along a lot of goodies, bags, paper hats and other things for the kids. They even had  cut outs that the kids could use to enhance photos of themselves on the red carpet.

It was, as most NYICFF special events are, truly special

KLUTZY WITCH
Hour long tale of the daughter of a white witch who is a bit of a klutz. She ends up a pawn in the plans of a banished dark witch who wants to escape her imprisonment and get revenge on those who locked her away.

This is an hour long short feature should have been turned into a series. While the film covers a lot of familiar territory (no doubt the result of it’s short length) there is enough here that it’s clear this could have been expanded. While what here is really good, I would have loved to see more with all of the characters. Back stories are hinted at that would make for fantastic little films/episodes.  That is not a knock at the film, rather an explanation that this film is so rich material you’ll want to revisit.

If there is any real flaw it’s that the short run time causes a bit of friction in the telling between the klutziness of the early part of our heroines tale and the serious of the second.  Things don’t blend as well as they would have in a longer telling.

Regardless this was a delight and I would happily line up for a sequel.

Shorts One NYICFF 2024

Thoughts on the films that made up the Shorts One collection at NYICFF

TWO ONE TWO
his is a lovely little film about a baby and it’s mom out traveling around. Done in a style that makes thins expressionistic the film is destined to make you smile. Sitting in the SVA theater you could hear all the adult sighing in recognition.  This is an absolute delight.

PUFFERFISH
Breaking the usual formula that many of the films that Julia Ocker’s film follow, this is the story of  a pufferfish trying to remain alive by inflating itself in the wake of danger, How it plays out is a delight. This is probably the best of Ocker’s films at this year’s NYICFF

LITTLE FAN
A little fan plays with an origami swan.

When the film started I heard a could of kids mention that it seems to be a riff on LUXO JR, the Pixar film, however while the set up may seem similar, where the film goes is entirely different.

I had a great time with this film. It made me smile and laugh. I had such a good time with the film that I ended up talking to director Sveta Yuferova in the lobby after the screening for a good chunk of time. After I explained how much I liked the film and loved how the photorealitic animation had a weight to it that most  big budget features don’t have.  She then regaled me with the story of her seven year quest to finamce and create the film. My  mention of all of the easter eggs in the background resulted in her hinting at goodies hidden there as well as a discussion of the creation of the soundtrack which is full of all sorts of hidden audio treats including lions roars. (I would have recorded the “interview” except that it was an off the cuff and unexpected happening)

If you want to see a great little film check this film out.

MARIE
This is an animated look at a young girls school note book and the doodles that come to life in it. Another delight.

HOW TO LASSO
This is a sweet film about a decked out young lady teaching herself to throw a lasso. It’s a wonderful that played in the front of some features at the fest.

MY NAME IS EDGAR AND I HAVE A COW
A man named Edgar goes to a slaughterhouse and takes home a cow which he raises in his apartment.

This is a funny and thoughtful about the fangers of raising a cow in an apartment and about how we treat other living things. It’s sweet.

RICE BALL
One of the joys of the collection and the festival is about a young girl sharing her lunch with friends.  This is such a delight  that I want to see director Kristina Pringle make a feature film. (This also played with other films at the festival)

COQUILLE
Awesome film about a couple of crabs traveling across a hot beach. Along the way they become friends. 

Another great film (that’s so good it played before other films) this is another film I’d love to see expanded, I want to see what happens to the buddies next.

FOREVER SEVEN
Based on a book this is the story of how a box went into and out of the lives of seven people and ended up bringing them together.  It’s a sweet little film that only suffers because of the company it keeps in the collection.

HOOFS ON SKATES
A pig and a cow go ice skating and discover some big fish under the ice.

I had no clue where this was going, but I was real curious as to where we would end up. The film has a wonderful through line punctuated by some great set pieces and some wickedly wonderful character animation. I mention this because  I want posters of some of the cow’s expressions which are very funny. (As I said to friends it has one of the greatest cartoon images of a goofy face I’ve ever seen)

Track this one down.

The Concierge (2023) (aka The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store ) NYICFF 2024

 

A young woman takes a job working as a concierge at department store that serves animals. 

Episodic tale feels more like the manga that it  is sourced from. It feels like three episodes of a TV show more than a feature film. The first is her first day of work, the second is her involvement in several stories of romance and the final is a number of Christmas stories.

This is a wildly uneven and very messy film that wanders all over the place. At  times it feels like it is juggling way to much. There are so many idea in this film, from the basic tale of finding your place in the world to serious pondering of how humanity is destroying environment and killing off species.  It was such a mess that I thought I was going to write a review trashing the film. However by the time the film ended the film had pulled it all together and I was getting misty. 

What a joy. Sure it's messy, but it's a joy.

Recommended

COCO FARM (2023) NYICFF 2024

Max is forced to move to the country with his dad after his dad’s business goes belly up. Staying at a farm he realizes that if he uses all the free range chickens he can set up an egg business. However as he makes a go of it , the processes set up to protect the big companies from competition begin to cause him trouble.

I was not planning on seeing COCO Farm at NYICFF however talking to people who had seen it at the film’s two festival screenings had me asking to see it. I mean people were saying they felt so good that they got weepy.

While I did not get weepy, I enjoyed the heck out of the film. A wonderful film about great people I instantly fell in love with everyone on screen. I know people tend to favor the animated films at NYICFF, however every year the festival is full of great live action films like this. This is the sort of film that is going to find it’s audience and become a touchstone film for generations.

This, like most films at NYICFF is one you will want to track down- and I mean that for adults as well as kids.

KENSUKE’S KINGDOM (2023) NYICFF 2024

Young Michael and his dog end up falling overboard during a storm while they were sailing around the world.  He washes up on a lost island. He is taken in by the reclusive Kensuke who has been there for years living with and taking care of the animals on the island.

I was not a fan of the early part of this film which was the set up. We’d been there before and Michael was in sufferable. I wanted to drown the kid. However once Michael is stranded the film begins to pick up and by the time the orangutans show  up I was fully invested. Then by the time end came I was an emotional mess.

I absolutely loved this film a great deal. The emotional arc was masterful and the fact the film doesn’t shy away from sadness (the ending is heart breaking) or disturbing (you though the death of Bambi’s mother was bad, you ain’t seen nothing) gives the film an emotional weight that is rare in any film, never mind animated. I think Joe Bendel was correct in comparing the film to the film THE RED TURTLE from a few years back since it was the last time I remember an animated film had this much weight.

Part of the reason the film works is the animation and the vocal performances. Rarely has character animation been this good in any films. The characters seem alive, both human and animal with each one given small nuances that make them more life like then even your typical Studio Ghibli release. Add to it a vocal performance as good as the one Ken Wantanabe gives and you instantly have something that should be in the running for a Best Actor Oscar. I’m serious about that.

This is something you need to see, and bring tissues because you will get misty.

ROSI AND THE STONE TROLL (2023) NYICFF 2024

We are the best idiots you can find

This is the story of a flower fairy who, through her friendship with a butterfly over comes her fears and ends up making a lot more friends.

Belt in boys and girls this is a wild and crazy film that you’re going to love. If you are a kid this is going to play one way and if you are an adult this is going to play on another level as you see all sort of reference and shading that is going to blow past the kids. I couldn’t look away as I was seeing all sorts of threads running through this film. Frankly it’s a film you need multiple viewings to even hope to catch it all.

What an absolute blast and a half.

Because I slept badly because of the time change (I kept waking up every half an hour so I wouldn’t miss the train early train into the city)  I found myself sleepy before  the film. When it started I thought I might drop off and then things began to happen and I sprung instantly awake. I couldn’t believe that I was watching this wild and crazy film that seemed like Terry Jones of Monty Python was intent on making sure that someone was carrying on with his bent style  and taking it to a new level. This is just crazy ass fun. I wanted to be in the headspace of the filmmakers because it’s somewhere wonderful.

If you want  to see something one of kind and wonderfully entertaining see ROSI AND THE STONE TROLL

TOBY ALONE (2023) NYICFF 2023

Based on a very big novel, TOBY ALONE is about a  boy who is millimeter and  half tall and live in a tree with his family. His father, a scientist makes an amazing discovery and the evil powers that run their community want the secret which causes Toby and parents to flee. Traveling to the bottom of the tree they try to hideout. However circumstance has other plans.

NYICFF screened the first 3 episodes of the 26 in the series and if you are like everyone at the screening this past weekend you’ll want to see the rest. A grand adventure this set up gives us only a taste of what is to come. I’m dying to see what happens next, but unless I can learn French quickly the only way that I can see the rest is to wait until the series (hopefully) hits US screens at the end of the year. (The English dub past these three episodes is being worked on and a sale is being negotiated)

This series is a great deal of fun. It plays like a classic fantasy adventure tale but in a smaller more eco-friendly version.  Even in these three episodes you get a sense of the scale of the tale and you want to lean in and see more. I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Listening to the producer and the director speak after the screening you really got a sense of how much they loved the material. It’s a love that has resulted in the pair working for nine years on series that would give the story the large canvas it needs to be told. The whole series runs over 11 hours and there never was a series thought of trying to cut things down. As they said, to cut it down would mean to lose too much.

If you want a taste of series that is going to be your next favorite thing see TOBY ALONE when it plays this weekend.

KUNG FU LION (2023) NYICFF 2024

Young man who is studying martial arts begins to study the lion dance. Hooking up with the son of a rich restaurant owner they struggle to find a common ground and become friends.

Forgive my much too brief explanation of the plot line. There is simply too much in this film to explain simply. Know that this is the story of people trying to find their place in life. It isn’t just the story of the two young man who do the lion dance but of their parents and their teacher, who begins to feel that the kids struggle reflects on his ability to teach.  There is also an exploration of fathers and sons.

I was moved.

I need to point out that while there is some martial arts this film isn’t about fighting. The Kungfu of the title is about becoming the best at something. It’s about the struggle to be as good as you can. It’s the path not the end.

I’m selling this film wildly short, and I’m sorry about that, but this is a film with a lot of great things going on and it’s not easy to explain it all without doing a real deep dive.

What makes the film work is that even though it hits numerous expected  points, the film doesn’t do what we think it will. Talking to Mr C after the film he said he loved that the film told the “typical” martial arts story and did it in a completely different way. The focus wasn’t on kicking ass or winning a tournament but just being a better person. This is a film about how the process of doing something we love makes us better.

This film is an absolute joy. It’s the sort of thing that makes you care so much that by the time the credits roll you have a tear in your eye. Recommended.

MOOMINVALLEY (2023) NYICFF 2024

Three more episodes from the UK TV series played to a packed house. 

I was talking to Nina Guralnick from the festival and she said that anything Moomins is a big hit at the festival and they are constantly trying to get really good Moomin material to screen because of the love audiences show the series.

This time out they screened HOMECOMING  which is about the people of Moominvalley going crazy because they thought Sniff was "the WIse One" a guru is telling them to be free and dance around. This results in a battle between law and order and a carefree existence. The problem is Sniff is using a book written by Moomin Papa as the source of his wisdom. AT the same time the Hattfastners have taken over Moomin Mama and Papas house and won't leave. It’s a lot of fun and takes lots of swipes at cultish behavior.

INVENTING SNORK introduces Snorkmaiden’s brother. A serious no nonsense s who only sees things in purely rational  terms. This collides with Snorkmaiden’s efforts to help Misabell feel better about herself.

MOOMIN MAMA'S FLYING DREAM  has Mama getting sick and Little Mai’s mother and her brothers and sisters moving in to help take care of her. Mai doesn’t trust her motives. Meanwhile Moomin Troll discovers that his mother wanted to fly a balloon around the world and with Snorkmaiden’s brother fixes up her balloon. This was a delightful tale.

Shorts for Tots at NYICFF 2024

A collection of nine short films geared to the younger set resulted in one young little kid being enraptured by the movies- I’ll get to that in a minute.

Three of the films are by Julia Ocker. RHINO about two rhinos getting ready for a date, BEAVER has a mouse rescuing a Beaver on deserted island and DORMOUSE about a mouse on his birthday. All are sweet little films that pivot on the notion of things going wrong.

UNRAVEL is one of the most amazing animated films I’ve seen in years. A short trifle where the character, a mouse, was sewn. It’s sweet little film that is even more amazing when you realize what it took to do it.

KONIGRI-KUN PARADE is another in the kitchen set stop motion series that has played the last few year. This time out everyone is getting ready for a parade.

RED HOUSE is a wild series of ever changing images that is just fun to watch.

BAKING WITH BORIS has a towns baker asking for help after he begins sneezing. This is a lovely little film

CATS ARE LIQUID is a clear explanation of why cats are really liquid- and if you have a cat you know this is absolutely true.

TABBY McTAT is based on a picture book. It’s the story of a buskers cat who falls in love. The longest of the films in the collection it’s an enjoyable tale told in rhyme and song. My question is why is that former Dr Who Jodie Whittaker listed way down in the cast list when she narrates the whole film and other than an off line or Rob Brydon’s song she is the only voice you hear.

During the opening minutes of the  collection a couple brought their kids into the theater. One was three or four. The other was younger. It was clearly the youngest one's first time at the movies. It was nigh impossible to move the little guy up the stairs as he was enraptured by the giant images on the screen. He then sat bug eyed on his father's lap staring at the screen. When it was done I heard dad say to his wife that they now had an answer as to whether he would sit still in a movie

NYICFF 2024 Notes from the first weekend

I'm going to post reviews for the six presentations I saw at NYICFF this weekend (MOOMIN VALLEY, KENSUKE'S KINGDOM, TOBY ALONE, SHORTS FOR TOTS, ROSI AND THE STONE TROLL and KUNG FU LION) but I do want to repost on a few things.

There is nothing like walking through the door one of your favorite festivals and instantly hearing your name called and then being asked where you were last weekend. It put a huge smile on my face and made me certain NYICFF truly is a place one can call home- more so when I was "yelled" at for putting family before the fest. In all seriousness the people running NYICFF rock. God bless every one of them.

I adore that the festival doesn't shy away from tough moments. There was a moment in KENSUKE'S KINGDOM that is in it's way tougher than the death of Bambi's mom- and it caused the audience to audibly gasp as one...and no one freaked out. It's one of the most crushing moments in film this year so far and no one batted an eye, they just went with it. Kudos to the audience- and even more to the programmers who know kids can handle moments like that.

Does anyone know how we can get MOOMINVALLEY picked up in the US? I was talking to Nina Guralnick about the Moomins in general and the series as part of it and she has said that the audience totals for the screenings go up every year but no one in the US seems to want to run the series.

If anyone saw me getting emotional in the lobby between the first two films today it was because I was watching all the kids running around and having the time of their lives. The sheer joy on the faces of the kids, one of which who was a dead ringer for my mom when she was that age, was over powering. If anyone needs to know why NYICFF needs to exist for another 225 years look to the smiles on the faces of the kids.

During the opening minutes of the SHORTS FOR TOTS a couple brought their kids into the theater. One was three or four. The other was younger. It was the youngest one's first time at the movies. He was nigh impossible to move up the stairs as he was enraptured by the giant images on the screen. He then sat bug eyed on his father's lap staring at the screen. When it was done I heard dad say to his wife that they now had an answer as to whether he would sit still in a movie.

AT the end of ROSI AND THE STONE TROLL three young girls in "fancy" dresses were dancing on the landing at the top of the stairs to the music of the end credits. It was a grand ball of the highest order.

A random note: If you are seeing TOBY ALONE be aware it ends on a cliff hanger. I mention this because the audience yesterday groaned. While the series is finished and can be seen in French, the English language version is still being worked on. Getting the rest of the series (23 more episodes that play out over 10 hours) to an American outlet is being negotiated-but is expected to happen at the end of this year

With one more weekend of the festival I need to stress that the festival is for everyone. Adults are more than welcome for all the films. I say this because in addition to parents, there were several adult animation nerds and people who learned to love the fest from going over the last 25 years with their kids when they were young. Their kids are "too old" or "too cool" to go, but the parents "aren't" so were seeing things like ROBOT DREAMS just to annoy their kids by seeing them first.

I'll have more when I go back through my chicken scrawled notes and back to the festival next weekend

Tickets for the festival's can be had here.

WHERE IS ANNE FRANK (2021) NYICFF 2024

This is a repost of my review from when the film played NYICFF in 2022

Ari Folman's look at Anne Frank and her legacy is an incredibly messy film. It has moments of great power but it is trying to do too much and ends up disappointing.

The plot of the film had Kitty, the fictional person Anne spoke to in her diary entries, coming to life a year from now and trying to find her friend. The trouble is while she is in the Anne Frank Museum she is invisible however outside, when she has the diary with her, she is a real person who ends up sort of romancing a pickpocket she saw at the museum, and becoming involved with refugees in Amsterdam. (And there are flashbacks to the war where Anne and Kitty talk)

Yes it is as messy as it sounds. 

While I can admire what the film is trying to do I don't think it really achieves most of what it was hoping to do. It simply has too many plot lines ging at the same time with the result that nothing is really explored. The refugees pop in and out, but we don't get to know them, they are kept at arms length. Mostly Folman assumes we know about their plight until a late in the game revelation that they were fleeing war.It's simple a general idea place holder. The pickpocket is there and not and there again. Even Anne Frank's story is given the short end of the stick because the film assumes you know all about Anne, and the war and what happened. As a result we get a highlighted version (kind of) of her story that is just random moments.

At the same time the film is hypercritical of the cult of Anne Frank and how she is everything with so many places named for her. The film takes everyone to task for the reverence shown her, arguing in the end that we should be treating her story as something different than a tourist destination and a way to name things, however the film never fully explains what that is. Lrd knows it tries but it never fully puts it over.

While it could be argued that the film is Kitty's story, even that is all over the place with the idea that she's imaginary, but real, and that she can travel in time but is here now being narratively messy. The rules for her existence seem to be made up on the fly or what a sequence needs to have happen. Even the romance with the pickpocket doesn't fully work because of its on again off again nature.

There are things that work, the scene where Kitty goes shopping is great. The Nazi's, riffed from the classic Alexander Nevsky are meancing (though I'm not sure we need the Battle on the Ice from Eisentstein's film refought with Anne's version of Ready Player One). The romance, when it is the focus, is great and magical. Truthfully the pickpocket is the best drawn of all the characters, including Anne and her family.

Apologies, this is a hard film to write about because while it's not bad its such a mess on so many levels I just want to pull it apart scene by scene. 

A disappointing miss.

Story and Pictures By (2023) NYICFF

This is a look at children’s picture books past and present. Looking at the great films of the past and how they influenced the books of today. We see how the best books broke the rules and the molds, with a result that they changed the people, both kids and adults, who read them.

A solid portrait of what it takes to create books that are loved by millions. It shows the upside and the down side of creating. The film even deals with the cost of success. For example successful writers have to lead clean and perfect lives, because some parents don't want them to be anything less than perfect. For example writers such as Maurice Sendak had to hide their sexuality lest their books be banned for something that isn't in the book. As it is books are too often censored for  some really dumb reasons, and the film discusses that as well.

If you have any sort of interest in picture books this film is a must, more so since many are brought to life with wonderful animation.

Worth a look,

(The film plays the Port Jefferson Doc Series on Long Island March 25. Information here.)

LIONESS (2023) NYICFF 2024

UK poster for LIONESS

Rosi loves her life in Suriname but ends up heartbroken when her family moves to the Netherlands. She feels isolated until she befriends Jitte. Jitte is also a football player, and she invites Rosi to join her team.

Leave it to the New York International Children's Film Festival to find a film that looks like one that we've seen before only to turn into something more. Yes, this is a feel-good sports film, but it is also a look at a young woman who is growing up and coming into her own.

What makes this film stand out is that while soccer is a major part of the film, the film is really about how Rosi interacts with her family and friends. This is not a film where sports are the answer for all things, but rather it's simply a tool that can be used to enrich a person's relationship with the people they love. We get emotional during the film because we care about the characters more than if they win or lose the big game.

This is a great under the radar film that everyone, both girls and boys (and adults) are going to love.

Recommended

DOUNIA: THE GREAT WHITE NORTH (2023) NYICFF 2024

Sequel to DOUNIA & THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO which played last year’s NYICFF. That film followed Dounia’s flight from Syria to safety in Canada. She and her grandparents made it to safety but her father was still  stuck in the worn torn country.

As the film opens Dounia and her grand parents are trying to assimilate in a town in the frozen north. She has made friends with Rosalie a French-Canadian girl and Miguizou who is a member of the First Nations. We watch as Dounia navigates her life with  her friends and family while her father tries to get to his daughter.

While not as tense  as the first film this film is a nice film that takes us through the next steps of a refugee. It’s a film that has a lot to say about the refugee experience as well some important things about the people of the First Nation.

If you liked the first film and wanted to know what happened next this film is for you.

Puffin Rock And The New Friends (2023) NYICFF 2023

Feature film of the Cartoon Saloon TV series  has more adventures with the various characters from the series and it introduces a number of new friends including an otter.

This is a sweet little film. While not as heavy as the studio’s earlier films, this film is an absolute breezy delight. I smiled from start to finish. What I really loved was that the film has some real suspense. The storm sequence is tense. Had this not been part of a continuing TV series I would have been frightened that someone was going to die.

While clearly geared for small people it works just as well for the big ones as well.

Recommended.

Chicken For Linda (2023) plays NYICFF 2024 Saturday

When a mother punishes her daughter a bit excessively, she instantly regrets it and asks what she can do to make up for it. This results in a request for her to make chicken and peppers. The trouble is Mom can’t cook and there is a general strike on and its nigh impossible to get chicken.

Utterly charming animated film may possibly end up in the Oscar mix when it reaches American shores. This is a sweet slice of life that is full of great characters, who are really all the people we know. What makes this film go as gloriously as it does is the fact that the film isn’t predictable. Every turn feels like life, it all feels right from start to finish. Movies are not supposed to feel like that, especially animated ones.

A joyous masterpiece.

I was delighted from the first frame to the last- laughing and smiling my whole way through.

Destined to play everywhere at every festival for the next year CHICKEN FOR LINDA is a must see.

The Queen's Flowers (2024) NYICFF 2024

In 1915 a young girl makes a gift for the last queen of Hawaii.

This is a lovely little film whose beauty brought a tear to my eye. Based on a true story, the film is about a student at a girl’s school  that was next to the residence of Lili'uokalani the last Queen of Hawaii. Expanded into a something magical THE QUEENS FLOWERS  made me smile. From the opening moments where a butterfly enters to the frame  I was entranced. I was simply carried along.

This is glorious filmmaking and clearly the work of an artist who trusts their instincts.

My only disappointment with the film was that I did not get to see this film at one of the New York International Children's Film Festival screenings (It’s playing in both Short Films 2 and Girl’s’ POV). That may sound foolish, but the truth is having attended the fest for too many years I know that the audiences are going to audibly react. I wanted to hear the reaction.

Highly recommended.

The film will be screening through out the festival, though the filmmakers will be at the March 3 screening

Robot Dreams (2023) plays NYICFF 2024 Saturday

In an alternate 1980's NYC a dog who is tired of living alone makes himself a robot companion.

This wordless animated film is very good. An entertaining little film, it was trumpeted as one of the best films of the year by many people in the critical community. There was much discussion in as to whether it would end up an Oscar nominee because of how Neon was handling the release and people weren't certain if it did or didn't qualify.  By the time I finally sat down to see the film it was carrying a great deal of baggage.

There is much to like in this film. There is much to like in the film. The characters are well drawn (no pun intended). The visuals are excellent. New York looks and feels like New York. The musical choices are excellent.  In a lot of ways it's as good as the film could possibly be. 

The trouble for me is that it didn't live up to the hype. Months of people telling me how I was going to be madly in love with the film when I saw it were wildly over selling it. Its a very good, very solid film but it's not the best animated film of the year.

That said- the film will is really good. It will delight you, make you smile and possibly make you cry. It's definitely worth seeing when it finally plays near you.

Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds (2023) plays NYICFF 2024 Saturday with a Q&A

Two girls are sent to stay with an aunt who is a writer of fantastic tales.  While the aunt sleeps the girls end up meeting one of the characters from the stories. When he opens a portal back to his world the girls follow and find themselves trapped in the world of their aunt’s creation.

Visually overwhelming film is going to be the favorite film of generations of kids. Set in a world of pure magic and wonder SIROCCO delights. It has images that make you talk out loud  as you stare in wide eyed wonder. I was blown away and I never wanted it to end because this was echoed the magic of my dreams.

The story is good and it results in some jaw dropping set pieces. While the film signals much too early that things will be okay, the film still manages to be suspenseful as we wonder how the girls are going to go back home.

I really loved this film a great deal, so much so that I’m considering going to the screening on the weekend.

Recommended where even or whenever you can see it.