MATILDA
US, 1996, 102 minutes, Colour.
Mara Wilson, Danny De Vito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris, Paul Reubens, Tracey Walter.
Directed by Danny De Vito.
After seeing the film, I read Roald Dahl's children's novel to see if it was as hard-edged as the film. It is. In fact, the film seems to be a quite close adaptation. Mara Wilson captures the strength of the girl who is misunderstood and ridiculed by her gauche parents (Danny de Vito, who directed the film, and his wife Rhea Perlman) but who wants to read and discuss issues intelligently. The treatment of the parents and of the alarming headmistress is enjoyably over the top (a heightened child's view), but the message is clear about the shonkiness and dishonesty of life (with spiv carsalesmen, bingo-addicts and abusive adults). Dahl's stories are not of sweetness and light. They go down very well with children. Satiric child's eye view of an awful adult world.
1.Popular with children? With adults? An adaptation of a Roald Dahl novel? Close to the novel? Roald Dahl’s edge? Child’s perspective of adults?
2.The transition to the United States? A good adaptation? The American suburbs, homes, car sales deals, bingo? The school? The real world, the child’s fantasy world? The musical score?
3.The title, the focus on Matilda Wormwood, her age, experience, not loved by her parents, out of place with her brother, her bookishness, intelligence? Her criticisms of her father and his morality? The clashes with her brother? The effect on her? Reclusiveness, reading? The telekinetic powers and their development?
4.Danny De Vito as the narrator – the third-person voice, Roald Dahl’s comment on Matilda’s life, her parents, the crises? The contrast with his performance as Harry Wormwood?
5.The portrait of the family, Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman as real husband and wife, performing as husband and wife and parents? At home, their not welcoming Matilda, not understanding her? Harry and his life, selling cars, the deals, the deceits, wary about the police, not suspecting the boat buyers to be the FBI? Matilda and her criticism of his morality? His treatment of her, of her brother? Explaining illegal things to his son, commending him? His relationship with his wife? Her self-absorption, going to bingo? Her manner in the house? Meals, watching television? Jenny’s interruption and their reaction? Their sending Matilda to school? Their believing the worst of her? The finale, the agents in the house, their fleeing to Guam? The issue of adoption, Matilda having the papers, their signing them? The portrait of Zinnia, flighty, self-absorbed, the bingo, at home? Her regrets about her daughter – but then happily giving her up?
6.Agatha Trunchbull, the caricature of the headmistress, the Nazi look and sound, the way she was filmed, ominous, with the children, threatening Matilda? The discipline, coming into the classroom? The hall, discipline? Her drinking the glass of water – and the salamander? Her chasing Matilda? The farcical aspects of her behaviour? Her comeuppance?
7.Jenny, sympathetic, in class, friendship, defending Matilda to Agatha? Her telling the story, the flashback? Agatha being her aunt? The treatment of Jenny, her concern? Visiting the house, Harry’s reaction to her visit? The television, turning it off? Not believing Jenny’s praise of Matilda? Matilda going to visit her, their sharing ideas, reading? Jenny and her devotion to Matilda, offering to adopt her? The happy ever after?
8.The portrait of a little girl, the exercise of her telekinetic powers? The super glue on her father’s hat at the restaurant? With Miss Trunchbull? Her not having to use the powers once she was herself – and happy?
