Dreamchild (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Dreamchild' (directed by Gavin Millar & creatively written by Dennis Potter) is set in 1932 on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alice in Wonderland creator, Lewis Carroll. The guest of honor at the NY-based celebration is dignified-if-grim-faced 79 yr. old Alice Hargreaves (Coral Browne), who, as a child inspired Carroll's whimsical novels. Fresh off a cruise liner from England, inflexible, initially-unpleasant Alice is accompanied by traveling companion Lucy (Nicola Cowper) and, upon her arrival, she is besieged by a horde of devoted fans, hustlers, aggressive newspaper reporters. One such unscrupulous reporter, Jack Dolan (Peter Gallagher), pushes his way into Mrs. Hargreaves' life & Lucy's heart.
Now, Mrs. Hargreaves is much more complex than we - or anyone else - think. We are transported back to 1860s England as Alice reflects back on days as a young girl (Amelia Shankley) where Rev. Charles Dodgson/pen-named Lewis Carroll (Ian Holm) reveals himself to be a child-obsessed, if-virginal, admirer of her. 79 yr. old Alice shares her nightmares & fantasies. See, in her mind, the world of Alice's Wonderland is still a scary reality, and we see the king, queen, Cheshire cat {& so on} as grotesque creatures designed to frighten, not enchant her. This film uses fantasy sequences to illuminate more realistic flashbacks in which we begin to sense some of the extremes to which Dodgson went to satisfy his bothersome, if platonic passion for Alice. And as the film progresses, we watch as Mrs. Hargreaves starts to realize that her entire life has been shaped by things that happened some 70 yrs. before.
'Dreamchild', as written by Dennis Potter, speaks aloud what many literary historians have only suggested ... that Lewis Carroll stifled {best we know} pedophilic urges. That sounds awful - and it IS - and yet, this wistful, genteel movie posits that this particular union btwn. subject matter {young Alice} & master {Carroll} only bore fruitful literary output. This is a most unusual little film, but also a wholly unique one; which somehow links elder Alice's visit to America in 1932 with the fictional exploration of that bizarre relationship btwn. besotted Lewis Carroll & herself. To that, the ramifications of this relationship wore on Alice her whole life; with the reflective, oft-nightmarish flashbacks merging with the present in her aging mind.
Ian Holm perfectly embodies the anguished, peculiar Rev. Dodgson/Lewis Carroll, conveying his desire for Alice while remaining sympathetic, given that he never acts upon his urges. Holm is great throughout; as I am reminded of a heartbreaking picnic scene in which a mockery is made of his stuttering. As young Alice, Amelia Shankley is a superb counterpart to Ian Holm, showing evidence of the nonchalant charm Carroll fell in love with, while making the boundaries btwn. them crystal clear. Nicole Cowper & Peter Gallagher impress at the young lovers. Jim Henson's surreal Wonderland creations, including the Mad Hatter, Mock Turtle, Gryphon, Caterpillar & Dormouse are, at once, magical & terrifying; a perfect amalgamation of Carroll's twisted imagination + Alice's lifelong interpretation of them.
Best of all is Coral Browne, who can blast us with some unpleasantries, yet also level us with a warm, subtle touch; particularly when her confused, age-influenced visions take hold of her tenuous psyche. I just wanted to hold her & tell her that everything would be okay. So, yeah, I admire 'Dreamchild' very much. It's an inventive blend of pure fantasy + creative speculation. It contains both the 'grim' & the 'whimsy'. It offers terrific period detail that spans the 1860s-1932. I recall the gothic quality of the opening sequence. I love the creepy Wonderland tea party; those Henson creature creations are somethin' else. The music is lovely. I could go on. 'Dreamchild' is an ambitious movie that juggles quite a bit ... and rarely drops the ball.
Now, Mrs. Hargreaves is much more complex than we - or anyone else - think. We are transported back to 1860s England as Alice reflects back on days as a young girl (Amelia Shankley) where Rev. Charles Dodgson/pen-named Lewis Carroll (Ian Holm) reveals himself to be a child-obsessed, if-virginal, admirer of her. 79 yr. old Alice shares her nightmares & fantasies. See, in her mind, the world of Alice's Wonderland is still a scary reality, and we see the king, queen, Cheshire cat {& so on} as grotesque creatures designed to frighten, not enchant her. This film uses fantasy sequences to illuminate more realistic flashbacks in which we begin to sense some of the extremes to which Dodgson went to satisfy his bothersome, if platonic passion for Alice. And as the film progresses, we watch as Mrs. Hargreaves starts to realize that her entire life has been shaped by things that happened some 70 yrs. before.
'Dreamchild', as written by Dennis Potter, speaks aloud what many literary historians have only suggested ... that Lewis Carroll stifled {best we know} pedophilic urges. That sounds awful - and it IS - and yet, this wistful, genteel movie posits that this particular union btwn. subject matter {young Alice} & master {Carroll} only bore fruitful literary output. This is a most unusual little film, but also a wholly unique one; which somehow links elder Alice's visit to America in 1932 with the fictional exploration of that bizarre relationship btwn. besotted Lewis Carroll & herself. To that, the ramifications of this relationship wore on Alice her whole life; with the reflective, oft-nightmarish flashbacks merging with the present in her aging mind.
Ian Holm perfectly embodies the anguished, peculiar Rev. Dodgson/Lewis Carroll, conveying his desire for Alice while remaining sympathetic, given that he never acts upon his urges. Holm is great throughout; as I am reminded of a heartbreaking picnic scene in which a mockery is made of his stuttering. As young Alice, Amelia Shankley is a superb counterpart to Ian Holm, showing evidence of the nonchalant charm Carroll fell in love with, while making the boundaries btwn. them crystal clear. Nicole Cowper & Peter Gallagher impress at the young lovers. Jim Henson's surreal Wonderland creations, including the Mad Hatter, Mock Turtle, Gryphon, Caterpillar & Dormouse are, at once, magical & terrifying; a perfect amalgamation of Carroll's twisted imagination + Alice's lifelong interpretation of them.
Best of all is Coral Browne, who can blast us with some unpleasantries, yet also level us with a warm, subtle touch; particularly when her confused, age-influenced visions take hold of her tenuous psyche. I just wanted to hold her & tell her that everything would be okay. So, yeah, I admire 'Dreamchild' very much. It's an inventive blend of pure fantasy + creative speculation. It contains both the 'grim' & the 'whimsy'. It offers terrific period detail that spans the 1860s-1932. I recall the gothic quality of the opening sequence. I love the creepy Wonderland tea party; those Henson creature creations are somethin' else. The music is lovely. I could go on. 'Dreamchild' is an ambitious movie that juggles quite a bit ... and rarely drops the ball.