Photographing Fairies

REVIEW
Traversing the same territory as Fairy Tale -- A True Story, this British film takes a more sober view of the subject. Charles Castle (Stevens) is a photographer in 1912 whose life is undone by two obsessions. After he loses his wife on their honeymoon, Charles experiences terrible grief. His despair is further complicated when be becomes aware of the existence of fairies, and is determined to find proof. The truth, however, is a secret that may be best left undiscovered. Director Willing's odd film blends fantasy and reality with decidedly mixed results. Is Charles going mad trying to solve a mystery that doesn't exist? Or is he supplanting his distraut emotions with another unhealthy obsession? The film's pursuit of these ideas is ambiguous, and the tone shifts uneasily between supernatural mystery and tragic romance.