The stimulating and personal book that Salman Rushdie wrote about was the reason for programming this fantasy film alongside the most recent examples of contrary imagination. What made and still makes so special is that Fleming evokes a fantastic children’s world with a festive and ingenious cinematographic box of tricks in a way that is also enjoyable and intriguing for adult viewers. The film has a wayward undertone ! so highly regarded by Rushdie ! that makes it clear it is more a great escape than fleeing reality. Reality is not frightening, but excruciatingly boring and things are better, or at least more adventurous, elsewhere. Its virtuosity, the complexity of its fantasy world and the huge amount of talent invested in it raise above the rest of this genre. The film is also being screened because the BFI Classic Film Collection has made an enchantingly fine copy available.
