Review of Photographing Fairies (1997) by Tamara T — 16 Jan 2012
Based upon the 1992 novel by Steve Szilagyi, this is a dark fantasy based on the Cottingley Fairies hoax. It came out around the same time as FairyTale: A True Story (1997), but while that was a family film, this is aimed squarly at adults.
It's an underrated British film, although some of it is over the top. This has widowed photographer Charles Castle (Toby Stephens), who works in a cramped photography studio with assistant Roy (Phil Davis).
But while at show, he see's photographs showing photographic evidence of fairies, which he is quick to dismiss. But, he is soon visited by Beatrice Templeton (Frances Barber) who shows more convincing evidence of fairies.
Charles goes to investigate in their small village, but with Beatrice's daughters Ana (Miriam Grant) and Clara (Hannah Bould), who were in the photos reluctant to talk to Charles, he decides to do his own investigations.
He runs into Nicholas Templeton (Ben Kingsley), a devout minister who scorns such suggestion. But, after tasting a flower that comes from a local tree, Charles begins to see the fairies for himself and he begins a decent into madness.
It's a dark film, but it's beautifully shot and has a surreal dreamy quality. Stephens plays the lead well, and Kingsley hams it up as usual. :P But, it's one to catch if you can.
This review of Photographing Fairies (1997) was written by Tamara T on 16 Jan 2012.
Photographing Fairies has generally received positive reviews.
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