Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty

Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty

****

Reviewed by: Leanne McGrath

This darkly humorous tale was deservedly nominated in the best animated short category at this year’s Academy Awards.

A seemingly sweet Irish grandmother tells her granddaughter a bedtime story - but it is more likely to give her nightmares than sweet dreams. Granny’s tale of terror puts the grim in Grimm’s fairytales.

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Her surprising dark version of Sleeping Beauty sees the bitter old fairy, who looks remarkably like Granny, curse the kingdom when she is not invited to Beauty’s Christening.

The young, pretty fairies don’t want her because she smells of old bed-sheets, is always moaning about her bad knee and will probably just fall asleep.

The important message about respect and attention for seniors who have “given their life serving the community,” comes gift-wrapped with laughs.

Granny is hilarious when she can no longer suppress her rage at being neglected and starts screaming out rants of bitter resentment. The animation is excellent - computer generated 3D in muted tones for granny’s world, vibrant colour in 2D for the fairytale.

Inspired by a character in comic Kathleen O’Rourke’s stand-up show, a visit to Granny has never been so much fun.

Reviewed on: 25 Mar 2010
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A bedtime story is a lot more grim than a little girl expects.
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Director: Nicky Phelan

Writer: Kathleen O'Rourke

Year: 2008

Runtime: 6 minutes

Country: Ireland

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