The Magic Tree – Magiczne Drzewo (2009)

Directed by: Andrzej Maleszka | 90 minutes | family | Actors: Agnieszka Grochowska, Andrzej Chyra, Maja Tomawska, Filip Fabis, Joanna Zietarska, Adam Szczegola, Hanna Sleszynska, Maciej Wierzbicki

In the distant past, a magical tree is cut down in Poland. The objects made from the wood have retained their magical properties. For example, a wooden clog just runs away from a store in Amsterdam. There is one item that has the greatest magic in the tree, a red wooden chair. This chair makes all your wishes come true. Kuki, Filip and Toska accidentally come into contact with the magic chair, when it literally falls on their car. At first, the children do not realize that the chair has special powers. When their nasty aunt accidentally sends Kuki’s parents, Filip and Toska away on a cruise, the children are forced to live with the aunt. The sudden change of character of their father and mother makes them realize that there is magic. They risk everything to get close to their parents and bring them back to their old selves. But the kids aren’t the only ones chasing the chair…

Director Andrzej Maleszka, who also directed the successful series of the same name, immediately captures the right atmosphere with ‘The Magic Tree’. He creates a magical youth film in which surprising situations follow each other at a rapid pace. This will keep the attention of the younger viewers, and the parents will have a great time too. The images are beautiful and the music is an excellent addition, making it a nicely rounded whole, well, enough room is left for a sequel or three. The casting for this youth film is well taken care of, both the three children and the mean aunt convince in their role. The characters are wonderfully characteristic, so the film breathes the real feeling of a classic adventure youth film that is full of magical experiences, (semi) mean characters and a football chair. Repetition is a typical phenomenon for youth films. Kuki constantly mumbles that he foresees trouble. This kind of recurring gimmicks are especially fun for children, for the elderly it starts to get a little annoying in the long run.

As a series ‘The Magic Tree’ won a prestigious Emmy Award and as a film it is also a very successful production. Dreaming about magic and experiencing adventures is no stranger to any child (and adult). Maybe you just have to be careful what you wish for when you watch the movie, sitting in the red cinema chair….