Sai and Shujath talk Cinema

This charming children’s fantasy is based on a book of the same name by Ronald Dahl (who wrote books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach which were made into films and also wrote for movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Matilda is an extremely gifted child born to lowlifes who do not have time for her. She is keen to learn and wants to go to school. When she joins school she is scared by the hateful and nasty principal. However, there is a ray of hope in the form of her teacher who realises her talent and encourages her. What transpires in the life of Matilda and these characters forms the rest of this magical film.

Mara Wilson (Mrs Doubtfire, A Miracle on 34th Street) is very cute and endearing as Matilda. Embeth Davidtz (Schindler’s List, Bicentennial Man) is goodness personified as Miss Honey while Pam Ferris (recently seen as Aunt Marge in Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban) does a commendable job as the cruel principal, Miss Trunchbull. Danny DeVito (who is effective as the narrator) and Rhea Perlman play the cartoonish parents of Matilda to good effect.

The characters in the movie are exaggerated but suited for a fairy tale world such as this. Danny DeVito does a good job as the director. He brings his vision to the script (Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord) and gives the movie a flavor and style that is all his own, veering it away from a conventional children’s film.

This alluring film has the right measure of sweetness, mischief, magic, humor, satire, exaggeration and faith. This film would appeal to adults as well as kids. Anyone who enjoys children’s fantasy or fairy tales should enjoy this movie.