An enchanting Easter treat for the whole family.
We are all huge fans of Enid Blyton's original Enchanted Wood Trilogy in our house. Kate Winslets fantastic narration of the books via the Yoto collection was an absolute mainstay of our eldest daughters bedtime routine for longer than I care to remember and as such the world of Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky is, in our imaginations anyway, one that is vivid, real and welded irrefutably to our families idea of childhood.
You will understand my hesitation then when the brand new adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree was announced.
Would it live up to both our expectations and the expectations of the generations of children that treasured the books' whimsy, innocence and charm?
Thankfully, in a round about way, it did - mostly.
Set in the modern day, Beth, Jo and Franny (a switch in older sibling from the book) set off for the countryside with their parents when their mother (Clare Foy) resigns from her job as a high flying tech executive. Intent on making a new life, free from the trappings of technology and on restoring their childrens' sense of wonder and magic, the parents launch headlong into their dream of living off the land.
It is only when a mysterious thank you letter is delivered to little Fran, inviting her to tea in the nearby wood, that things start to take a magical turn. The children soon become acquainted with the Faraway Trees unique residents. Moonface and Saucepan Man are a delight, and the suitably scary Dame Snap! and Mr Oom Boom are both scary and ridiculous enough in equal measure - enough to satisfy the most thrill-seeking six year-old!
Honestly, my kids really loved this film. It is filled with innocence, old world charm and gentle humour. It also looks absolutely beautiful and I think there is so much to be had from seeing such a visually rich film on the big screen.
There are some changes from the original family dynamic, and the film doesn't follow the original plot, but its adaptation for modern audiences has resulted in a film that acknowledges the modern realities of technology whilst also honouring the wonder and magic of childhood.
It's a solid 4 stars from us!
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