Dickens & Rumi
Cover of FairyTale: A True Story

film

FairyTale: A True Story

1997

In 1917, two children take a photograph, which is soon believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on the true story of the Cottingley Fairies.

Ages 8+Source checked

Why this age? Generally gentle and suitable for families, but younger children may find the dead child, a missing father, wartime references, grieving adults, eerie fairies, and tense intrusions emotionally unsettling. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age8+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character2/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Religious themes2/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Kindness & empathy3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character2/5
Why this rating?

The film deals with the death of a young boy prior to the story and a father missing in war.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Language appears limited to mild, period-appropriate expressions or name-calling, without strong profanity or slurs.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

Theosophy, spiritualism, angels, mediums, and belief in ethereal beings are recurring story elements.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Very minor, mostly background marital relationships.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Fairies, a mysterious apparition, grieving families, public mobs, and a house break-in may be mildly eerie or suspenseful.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional historical smoking may appear, but substance use is minor, adult-associated and not central or glamorized.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Brief mentions of WWI and a scene involving a mob of journalists invading the village.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

The children pursue their beliefs and face publicity, skepticism, and difficult family circumstances with initiative and resolve.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Central theme of imagination, artistic expression, and constructing magical narratives.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Limited given the 1917 England setting.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It introduces photography, illusion, early-20th-century history, wartime absence, spiritualism, and the real Cottingley controversy.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

The girls seek to bring comfort to a grieving mother through their actions.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Emphasizes the value of wonder, belief, and the emotional necessity of hope in difficult times.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The parents show care and protective instincts; the girls are imaginative, though they struggle with honesty.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in FairyTale: A True Story would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in FairyTale: A True Story, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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