Fairytale: A True Story

Ah, the Cottingley fairies photographs! They did make a stir when they came out, didn't they? Only years and years later did Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright confess to faking them.

When I was young I watched this movie and thought that, since the two little girls were seeing the fairies, the photographs were real. I realize now that it is clearly shown, in two scenes, that the girls faked the pictures. When we see them outside on their way to taking the first photographs, Elsie has her brother's fairy drawings with her, and in the scene where the journalist finds the drawings and arrange them exactly like in one of the picture.
I was disappointed.
But then I realized that the movie made an even more wonderful statement.
It seemed to say that the fact that the photographs were fake does not mean that fairies don't exist or that Elsie and Frances couldn't see them.
It seems to say that it is possible, that fairies can be real.

Of course, now, my vision of fairies, tinted by hours of reading myths and folktales, does not corresponds to the Victorian idea of them, wearing flowers and drinking morning dew.
It is still a wonderful movie to watch. And oh, how I want that house and room and garden! How I want the beck to explore and daydream in!

So tell me: Do you believe in fairies?

More stills HERE

The Cottingley Photographs: