The Fairy:A Very Modern

FairytaleThe Fairy is the third collaboration between artists-directors Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon and Bruno Romy. As the title suggests, this is a story of a fairytale. Dom, who works night shifts in a small hotel in Le Havre, is a solitary, awkward and simple man. One day comes to the hotel a woman, Fiona and says she is a fairy. She has no luggage and no shoes and tells Dom that she can grant him three wishes. He wishes for a motorcycle and gets a brand new one.He wishes to have gas for life and he obtains it. Before granting the third wish, Fiona disappears. In the meantime, Dom has fallenin love with Fiona and thus starts looking for her all over Le Havre.

The movie is full of quirky characters like the waiter at the Blurry in Love café who is blind as a bat, or a British customer in the hotel who is always chasing after his dog. The elements of the fairytale are present, like magical and fantastical situations. Also, the movie is faithful to the director’s universe since it is full of craziness, deep thinking and comical scenes at the same time.

words by

sarah Bonnefoi

This lightness is brought thanks to absurd repetitions - which are comical - and danced scenes. Indeed Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon have worked as mimes for years and feel very close to clowns. Odd and yet moving characters, magic and dance sequences is what makes this movie so charming.

Many critics refer to their work as ‘poetical burlesque’. The scene of the birth in the movie is very dramatic and funny at the

same time. The dances themselves, which could be completely off, allow them to talk about serious matters without a word. The

scene in which Dom and Fiona make love to each other under the sea through their dance is very poetic and emotional.The character of the fairy herself is very comical. She is imperfect – like the movie - and dysfunctional. Yet, she

manages to defy all the authority figures by making them look ridiculous (the police, nurses, teachers, etc.). Her

craziness leads to the following question; who is sane in the end, the fairy or the world we live in?

The odd trio always says during interviews that they are not creating anything new. They take old techniques and try to add as little visual effects in post-production as possible. Also, they work with a small team, always the same people, which functions more like a family. This DIY or collage technique is connected to the clown and the circus universe. Their gags and the moral of their movies always seem to deliver the same message; think outside the box. Indeed, in The Fairy, life is not easy. The characters need to reach out for their happiness.

The Fairy screened as part of this year’s Cork French Film Festival, running from the 4th -11th March 2012

Who is sane in

the end, the fairy

or the world

welive in?