THE FAIRY
France/Belgium, 2011, 94 minutes, Colour.
Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno Romy.
Directed by Dominque Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno Romy.
The Fairy is an absurd fairy tale, slapstick with the light touch. It is the third film from the trio who star and direct. The first film was Iceberg (2005) and the entertaining Rumba (2008).
The film could be described as whimsical. It is not realistic – though some of the sequences, absurd as well as humorous, blend the real and the surreal.
The film has minimal plot, focuses on the characters, humorous situations, touches of madness.
It is probably not to everyone’s taste, but for those who are fans of the trio, it is entertaining.
1. The work of the trio? Writing, directing, acting? Their idiosyncratic personalities, performances?
2. The title? The focus on the fairy herself, coming to the hotel, the interaction with Dom, the episodes in their life? Her character? The three wishes, the pregnancy, the childbirth?
3. Dom, in Le Havre, the hotel receptionist? The introduction, his wanting his TV dinner, the bell ringing, the visitor with the dog, British? The forbidding of pets – but his bringing back the dog in the suitcase? The jokes with the dog in the case, barking and running around?
4. Fiona arriving, her deadpan look, down-to-earth, her decision to give Dom three wishes? His trouble with the sandwich and her helping him not choke? The going into the sea, the dancing, the seaweed? The shellfish?
5. Fiona’s pregnancy, the hospital, the mental institution? The lead-in to the car chase? (And the rear projection?) The birth, the baby and its being on the back of the car?
6. The physical comedy? The slapstick? The dancing and movement? The music – the woman rugby player and her song?
7. Background characters – especially the trio, the young African men, the desire to get across the English Channel, Britain as their goal? Their failure?
8. The role of the police? Ineffectual – comic cops?
9. The childbirth sequence and its impact? The fairy and the experience? Dom and his bewilderment?
10. The cumulative effect of the characters, the incidents, the comedy – with the touch of the twee and the fey?
