FairyTale: A True Story

About the Book

The film "FairyTale: A True Story" is based on the book The Coming of the Fairies by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The book was published in 1922 and explores the famous Cottingley Fairies incident, where two young girls, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, claimed to have photographed real fairies in their garden in Cottingley, England. Doyle, a firm believer in spiritualism, was captivated by the photographs and wrote the book to present the evidence and his belief in the existence of fairies.

About the Author

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his creation of the detective Sherlock Holmes. However, he was also deeply interested in spiritualism and the supernatural. His book The Coming of the Fairies reflects his fascination with the mystical and his willingness to believe in the existence of fairies, despite skepticism from the public and scientific community.

Film Adaptation

The film "FairyTale: A True Story" takes inspiration from Doyle's book but adds fictional elements to create a more dramatic and engaging narrative. While the core story of the Cottingley Fairies remains, the film introduces new characters and events to enhance the storytelling. The film captures the essence of Doyle's belief in the supernatural but is not a direct adaptation of the book.

Related People

• Charles Sturridge - Director of the film

Background

The film "FairyTale: A True Story" is based on the real-life events surrounding the Cottingley Fairies, a series of photographs taken by two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, in the village of Cottingley, England, in the early 20th century. These photographs purportedly showed fairies and gained significant public attention.

The Cottingley Fairies

In 1917, Elsie Wright, aged 16, and her cousin Frances Griffiths, aged 9, claimed to have photographed fairies in the garden of Elsie's home in Cottingley. The photographs were taken using Elsie's father's camera, and they depicted the girls interacting with small, winged creatures.

Public Reaction

• The photographs were initially dismissed by Elsie's father as fake, but her mother believed in their authenticity.
• The images gained widespread attention after being published in 1920 in a magazine called "The Strand," accompanied by an article written by Edward Gardner.
• Famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a spiritualist, was convinced of their authenticity and used them to support his beliefs in spiritualism and the existence of fairies.

Authenticity and Later Revelations

For many years, the photographs were a subject of debate. In the 1980s, Elsie and Frances admitted that the photographs were staged using cardboard cutouts, although Frances maintained that the fifth and final photograph was genuine.

Film's Accuracy

The film "FairyTale: A True Story" takes creative liberties with the real events, adding fictional elements and characters to enhance the narrative. While it captures the essence of the public's fascination with the photographs and the era's interest in spiritualism, it dramatizes certain aspects for cinematic effect.

Key Figures

• Charles Sturridge - The director of the film, who aimed to bring the enchanting story to life while maintaining a balance between fact and fiction.