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IMDbPro

Photographing Fairies

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
53,904
10,207
Photographing Fairies (1997)
DramaFantasyMystery
A 1997 fantasy film based on Steve Szilagyi's 1992 novel, Photographing Fairie.A 1997 fantasy film based on Steve Szilagyi's 1992 novel, Photographing Fairie.A 1997 fantasy film based on Steve Szilagyi's 1992 novel, Photographing Fairie.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
53,904
10,207
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Chris Harrald
      • Steve Szilagyi(book)
      • Nick Willing
    • Stars
      • Toby Stephens
      • Emily Woof
      • Ben Kingsley
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Chris Harrald
      • Steve Szilagyi(book)
      • Nick Willing
    • Stars
      • Toby Stephens
      • Emily Woof
      • Ben Kingsley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos8

    Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Toby Stephens in Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Toby Stephens in Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Frances Barber in Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Rachel Shelley and Toby Stephens in Photographing Fairies (1997)
    Photographing Fairies (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Toby Stephens
    Toby Stephens
    • Charles Castle
    Emily Woof
    Emily Woof
    • Linda
    Ben Kingsley
    Ben Kingsley
    • Reverend Templeton
    Frances Barber
    Frances Barber
    • Beatrice Templeton
    Phil Davis
    Phil Davis
    • Roy
    Hannah Bould
    • Clara Templeton
    Miriam Grant
    • Ana Templeton
    Rachel Shelley
    Rachel Shelley
    • Mrs. Anne-Marie Castle
    Edward Hardwicke
    Edward Hardwicke
    • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • Gardner
    Stephen Churchett
    Stephen Churchett
    • Mr. Dawson
    Mary Healey
    Mary Healey
    • Mrs. Dawson
    Maggie Wells
    • Mrs. Hoopdriver
    Richenda Carey
    Richenda Carey
    • Fierce Woman
    Jeremy Young
    Jeremy Young
    • Des
    Michael Culkin
    Michael Culkin
    • Cole
    Donald Douglas
    Donald Douglas
    • Judge
    James Greene
    James Greene
    • Minister
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Chris Harrald
      • Steve Szilagyi(book)
      • Nick Willing
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Edward Hardwicke (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) has played Doyle's Dr. Watson many times.
    • Goofs
      When discussing the original photograph with Beatrice Templeton (Frances Barber), Charles Castle (Toby Stephens) says that the supposed fairy in the image could just be a 'glitch in the emulsion'. The use of the word 'glitch' is anachronistic. Glitch, meaning a small fault, didn't come in to common parlance till the 1960s some 40+ years after the setting of this film.
    • Quotes

      Gardner: Everyone of you here, ladies and gentlemen, has something in common, something that links you to your neighbor. We are all of us searching for a clue that shows us what life truly promises us, for a way of seeing what lies under the simple surface of things. Now recently, we've had continued messages at seances, messages indicating that a visible sign was coming through. Ladies and gentlemen, that sign is here. People talk about the miracle of photography. I'm going to show you a photograph of a miracle.

    • Connections
      Version of BBC2 Play of the Week: Fairies (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, II. Allegretto
      Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performed by The Philharmonia Orchestra

      Conducted and orchestrated by Terry Davies

    User reviews44

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    Fantastic and Beautiful
    If you have cable and the SciFi Channel, you may have had the

    pleasure of catching this little gem. I kept seeing it in parts and

    even in the little snippets, it drew me in and had such a haunting

    quality. It was on the other night and I just sat and watched it all the

    way through and despite the fact that I'd seen some scenes

    before, it still held such a wonderful presence. It's hard to really

    describe the movie -- part love story, part fantasy, with a little bit of

    the Big Question over exactly what the afterlife is. The

    cinematography is absolutely picturesque, almost like watching a

    Merchant Ivory production, but with a bit of fairy magic thrown in.

    Ben Kingsley is an interesting addition to the cast. I wish there

    was more characterization done on all the main roles. You get a

    sense of where everyone comes from in terms of motivation, but

    more background would have made for a richer film. The pace is

    sometimes inconsistent, moving quickly in the beginning, then

    slowing, then speeding up again. But the film's dry English wit

    makes for enjoyable moments of irreverence. It's still just an

    overall beautiful film. Very bittersweet and heartbreaking in

    moments. The end is shot with such care and emotion. As

    fantastic as the premise is, the heart of the movie is something

    everyone can understand -- the loss of a loved one and the chance

    to rekindle a spirit burdened with sorrow. A funny bit of irony -- the

    actor who played Watson in the BBC Sherlock Holmes series is in

    this movie and he plays (har har har) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
    helpful•12
    3
    • d_sakaki
    • Nov 19, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1997 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Elfengarten
    • Filming locations
      • Switzerland
    • Production companies
      • Arts Council of England
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • British Screen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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