Can anyone here tell me the title of an L Frank Baum novel, other than 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz'? - No, thought not! Well now we all can: 'The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus' is a Baum story too! Here the story has been adapted and relocated to Scotland by Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and the result is quite magical.
In this 30 minute film, using woods and grounds around the theatre, producer Elizabeth Newman, director Marc Small, and DOP Russell Beard, have together created a fantasy world which wouldn't look wrong in a 'Lord Of The Rings' style film. An enchanted wood peopled by immortal nymphs, lead by a kind of female Gandalf; ruler of the Immortals, The Great Ak; The Laughing Valley, outside the remit of the nymphs, but still very much in Immortal territory, and on the fringes of human society; and the icy presence of the almost panto-villainesque, Jack Frost. What's not to love about this? Add to all of this that the protagonist is a Santa Claus as you've never seen or imagined before. It is the story of how Santa Claus came to be the way we know and love him today. Although, you'll be surprised to learn that he doesn't live in either Lapland or the North Pole...!
The story is narrated by a friendly immortal fairy who just happened to step on a booby trap, laid out by eager child, Alice, before going to sleep on Christmas Eve. Alice is awoken by the noise, and so the fairy sits by her bed and tells her why it is her and not Father Christmas himself delivering the presents.
It's a wonderful story, with some dark drama thrown in, in the middle for good measure; and indeed, the parallels (if you start to look for them) with The Wizard Of Oz, are quite astounding! (Peter Pan too has many things in common). But this story has been expertly filmed, and uses some lovely original music composed by Ben Occhipinti.
The young girl Alice is played by Rosa Lavery, with the role of Fairy being Fiona Wood. Whilst the Immortals are played by Lisa Livingstone (Wood Nymph Necille), Jane McCarry (Great Ak), Marco Young (Knook), and Krsiti McDonald (Jack Frost). the role of Santa Claus is played by Michael Cooke.
A smashing wee film for older preteens and younger teens to watch. There is everything in this story for them: adventure, thrills, magic, love, fantasy, and more adventure! And the ending just melts your heart!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 7.12.21
on - 7.12.21
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