Latest news with #fairytales
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Sanctuary by Marina Warner review – the power of stories in an age of migration
Marina Warner begins this dazzlingly protean book with a distinctly mundane memory. It is the 1950s, she is a young teen, and the highlight of her week is going to the Saturday morning 'flicks' with a neighbour's slightly older daughter. One particular movie scene has stayed with her: it involves a man dressed in a vaguely historical costume who is fleeing for his life. Face contorted with terror, he makes it as far as the door of a cathedral, whereupon he knocks loudly and cries 'Sanctuary!' The door opens a crack, the man slides inside, and the Saturday morning audience breaths a collective sigh of relief. Even if the plot points remain hazy – is Robin Hood somehow involved? – the underlying principle needs no explaining. The fugitive has invoked the ancient right by gaining entrance to a designated sacred space. As long as he stays put his pursuers can't touch him. From these hyper-local beginnings, Warner sets out to explore and expand what 'sanctuary' means in an age when millions are on the move around the world, chased out of their homes by environmental disaster, economic collapse, war and political oppression. It is in these grim circumstances that she proposes a new concept of sanctuary, one built not from bricks and mortar or even tents and blankets, but by tales and their telling. Over the past 50 years of her distinguished career as a cultural historian, Warner has immersed herself in liminal literature, tracing the way that fairytales, playground chants, lullabies, fables, patter and ditties manage to evade the censor, slip under the radar, and slide into conversations without attracting too much attention. Now she suggests putting these folk forms to work, using them to build bridges and forge connections between arrivants (a term she prefers to 'migrants') and their often hostile hosts. It is at this point that sceptics might ask how Warner's proposed 'commons of wonder', filled with stories of myth and magic, can possibly help with the practical needs of displaced people more likely to be worried about clean water, healthcare, a job and, above all, the legal right to remain. This is a challenge that she knows well and has spent her career confronting. Her earliest books on the Virgin Mary (1976), Joan of Arc (1981) and, especially, female statuary (the magnificent Monuments and Maidens, 1985), all made the case for allegorical forms having a powerful conditioning effect on the way that people understand and experience their own lives. She got critical flak for it, as well as a great deal of praise. Decades on she shows no signs of being abashed, insisting as strongly as ever that storytelling can function as a 'binding agent' between strangers, creating spaces for concepts of justice and coexistence to develop. As back-up she deploys the British anthropologist Alfred Gell's useful phrase 'art as agency' to underscore her belief that telling stories has real-world consequences. This won't be enough to convince everyone, yet even the most literal-minded critic must admire Warner's commitment to making things happen. In 2015 she won the prestigious Holberg prize and used her £380,000 winnings to help set up Stories in Transit, a project designed to facilitate the exchange of stories between the young people, mostly men, who daily arrive in Sicily from the Middle East, the Maghreb, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the eastern Mediterranean. What might emerge, Warner wanted to know, if these travellers and their tales were encouraged to mix and mingle? Din from Guinea, where civil strife has destroyed his family, arrived in Sicily after a two-year trek by foot across the Sahara followed by a journey across the Mediterranean in a boat. During a Stories in Transit workshop he tells a traditional tale from home called The Huntsman, the King's Son and the Enchanted Deer, a spirited mashup of politics and magic, comedy and sorrow, with one tale nestled inside another in the manner of One Thousand and One Nights. What strikes the comparatist in Warner is the way that this Guinean tale echoes animal stories from both the medieval Arab world and the even older Aesop's Fables. Still, it is not where a story has come from that concerns her so much as where it is going. Over the course of several sessions, The Huntsman, the King's Son and the Enchanted Deer develops into a promenade piece, complete with puppetry, song and animated film. From here another arrivant, this time from Gambia, takes the spirit of Din's story and turns it into something quite distinct, a comic parable with music called One for You and One for Me. Sceptics once again might worry that this privileging of fantastical and shape-shifting narratives strikes the wrong note in a world where truth has become slippery and facts are optional. But Warner is ready for them, pointing out that the world in which the arrivants live is already fictional. Rhetorically marshalled into 'hordes' or 'swarms', these 'aliens' are routinely denigrated as 'scroungers' and even 'criminals'. The official maps that tell them where they have come from and where they should go are also imaginary, continually redrawn in the wake of colonial and nationalistic carve-ups that frequently take little account of linguistic, cultural and ethnic affinities. There is another reason Warner feels strongly about encouraging the arrivants to play fast and loose with the materials to hand. At every stage in their hazardous journey they have been required to narrate their life stories to officials in particular ways if they are to be allowed to proceed to the next stage in their search for sanctuary. The dates must be right, the dangers consistent, and motives must be pure, involving escape from tyranny rather than desire for a better job. To deviate from the first telling of an account is to risk deportation. As a result, suggests Warner, in an exquisitely attuned reading of the situation, arrivants are sealed into versions of themselves that take no account of their changing feelings and experience. It is in this context that making up stories becomes vital in ensuring a form of survival that is as psychically healthy as it is physically safe. Sanctuary: Ways of Telling, Ways of Dwelling by Marina Warner is published by William Collins (£22). To support the Guardian buy a copy at Delivery charges may apply.
Geek Vibes Nation
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Hans Christian Andersen' Blu-Ray Review - Danny Kaye Brings An Iconic Storyteller To Life
Once upon a time, there lived in Denmark a young shoemaker named Hans Christian Andersen whose magical tales delighted boys and girls throughout the land. Danny Kaye 'is a delight' (Cue) as Hans, who one day journeys beyond the borders of his small village, across the sea and into the dazzling city of Copenhagen. There he encounters marvels and wonders beyond his wildest dreams…and finds the inspiration for some of his most unforgettable characters, such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina and many more! Nominated for six Oscars, Hans Christian Andersen is pure enchantment! For thoughts on Hans Christian Andersen, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality Warner Archive brought Hans Christian Andersen back in print to Blu-Ray in 2020 after first being released on Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2012. This disc is the exact one used in the original run, only brought back so you do not have to pay inflated prices on the second-hand market. The Samuel Goldwyn estate restored the film for this original release from a 2K scan on the Interpositive in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio that looks good but could likely look even better with modern restoration tools. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the vibrant array of colors within the costumes and settings that radiate off the screen with a lovely vibrancy. Every hue appears to be fairly accurate to its intended shade. Black levels showcase nice depth with respectable stability throughout, and highlights are bright without succumbing to any blooming. The restoration appears to have eliminated most dirt and damage for a clear picture. There do not appear to be any dastardly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. The level of detail and clarity is in fine shape with a faithful amount of natural film grain intact, yet there is a bit of softness at points due to coming from an Interpositive. We would love to see a 4K restoration in the future, but this disc holds up well enough. Audio Quality The Blu-Ray comes with a pleasant DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track that captures the material without issue. The star of the show is the music, and this track executes these elements with care. It balances the soft vocals with the accompanying dance numbers and music with great clarity. Dialogue comes through clearly with nothing overshadowed by competing elements. There are spectacular moments when the track is bustling with all of the competing elements, but the fidelity never comes up short. Warner Bros. has provided a strong presentation that avoids signs of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH), French, and Spanish subtitles are provided. Special Features Theatrical Trailer (2:43) Final Thoughts Hans Christian Andersen is an amiable movie musical that takes a fictionalized look at the life of an iconic storyteller as brought to buoyant life by Danny Kaye. The narrative is understandably kid-friendly given the tales that he wrote, but there is a lack of complexity given to his struggles that falls in line with so-called biopics of the time. That being said, the glossy approach to the narrative does yield some entertaining numbers and some fine performances. Warner Archive has re-released a Blu-Ray featuring a pleasant A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended Hans Christian Andersen can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Top European theme park that mums say is better than Disneyland shows off new Wes Anderson-style hotel
A TOP European theme park is welcoming a new premium hotel that looks like it's out of Wes Anderson's world. Dutch theme park Efteling will be opening a new hotel this summer called the Efteling Grand Hotel. 6 6 6 The theme park is already well known for its fairytale theme, with one TikToker - The Travel Mum - dubbing it "better and cheaper than Disneyland". The new addition to the attraction will be the first hotel located within the theme park itself and will open on August 1. The hotel will be themed around a traditional grand dame hotel with stories woven into the design throughout, appearing like a Wes Anderson story. There will be digital check-in, valet parking and luggage handling, upon arrival. A bellhop and Efteling's two princesses will guests in the lobby, where the air will also be infused with the hotel's signature fragrance. The hotel will be spread across seven floors offering 140 rooms and suites, with a total of 644 beds. The biggest room will be able to host six people. The hotel rooms will also overlook the park with different views of the Aquanura water show the House of the Dive Senses entrance, the Fairytale Forest or the Pardoes Promenade Lane. All of the rooms include breakfast at Brasserie 7 and half an hour of early access to the park before it opens to the public. Other features of the rooms include each one having an Efteling Grand Hotel fairytale book. Inside Universal Epic Universe with incredible thrill rides and amazing food The lower ground floor of the hotel will have a swimming pool - availabel only to hotel guests - with spa facilities including a steam room, sauna and massage room. There will also be a multifunctional serenity room where guests can unwind, pray or meditate. The hotel will have two restaurants with Brasserie 7 located on the ground floor and Restaurant-Bar Mystique on the first floor. While Brasserie 7 will serve up a range of classic dishes - which include seven 'magical' ingredients such as princess tears and snow from Mother Holle - Restaurant-Bar Mystique will offer a more premium dining experience. 6 6 Each table will be decorated with edible decorations and the restaurant will be open to the public, as well as park and hotel guests. Café Biscuit will also be a part of the hotel, where baristas will serve coffee and the signature Grand Hotel biscuit. Plans have also been revealed for incredible new 240-room hotel with huge swimming lake, golf and spa near to iconic racetrack. Plus, a huge new Premier Inn will open near major airport and will be the largest of its kind in the north of UK. 6
Wall Street Journal
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Return to Sender' Review: Wishes by Mail
What if you could have anything you wished for? The author-illustrator Vera Brosgol puts a contemporary spin on the classic setup in 'Return to Sender,' her delightful novel for middle-grade readers. Seasoned fans of fairy tales and fables will anticipate the fantastical wish-granting ahead, but our story actually starts with real-life wish fulfillment of a more conventional kind: inheriting New York City real estate. When a great-aunt leaves 10-year-old Oliver Bakh and his mom her Manhattan apartment, their change in fortune couldn't have come at a better time. Ever since Oliver's dad died the previous year, Oliver and his mom have been bouncing from one distant relative's home to the next. Like all New York City apartments, this one has its quirks—in this case, a mail slot built into a wall, leading to nowhere. But as Oliver accidentally discovers, the mail slot can grant the apartment's owners anything they wish for: Write down a wish, feed it into the slot, and soon step-by-step typewritten instructions for making the wish come true will arrive. Ms. Brosgol has a sharp eye for both class dynamics and the way that social media can exacerbate adolescent (and indeed, adult) envy. Oliver attends a prestigious private school thanks to the tuition discount his mom receives for working there as a custodian. Among the children of New York's elite, Oliver stands out for all the wrong reasons. While Oliver's wishes start out small enough—pizza for dinner, a new pair of sneakers—they inevitably increase in scope. 'His classmates had inherited money,' Oliver reasons. 'He'd inherited wishes. It would be wrong to waste them.' In 'Return to Sender,' each wish comes with a cascade of reality-changing consequences. Ms. Brosgol has previously written and illustrated graphic novels and picture books—including 'Anya's Ghost' (2011) and 'Leave Me Alone!' (2016)—and one of the many charms of this book are her black-and-white cartoons punctuating the pages. These are an especially effective and entertaining way of showing the unexpected events that Oliver's wishes set in motion.
ABC News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
MSO: An Evening of Fairy Tales
Cruel witches, beautiful princesses and gallant princes abound in this overview of fairy tale favourites. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra offers a curated collection of fairy tale excerpts from Humperdinck, Prokofiev and of course Tchaikovsky, led by young British conductor Alpesh Chauhan. Recorded live in concert at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Narrm/Melbourne, on May 17, 2025 by ABC Classic. Producer Jennifer Mills. Engineer Alex Stinson. Program Engelbert Humperdinck: Prelude from Hansel and Gretel Sergei Prokofiev: Cinderella: At the Ball (Act II highlights) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Dramatic highlights from Sleeping Beauty Artists Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Alpesh Chauhan (conductor) Find out more Read MSO programs here
