How to get what we really want? Can we solicit help from an imaginary friend? Should we get help from a magician? Sometimes the most magical things happen without the use of magic.
Albert lives with his father in the suburbs and dreams of having a dog of his own. But his father is having doubts. Considering a dog to be too great a responsibility, he tells his son he’s still too young. Albert disagrees. He’s a big boy already – after all, he’ll soon turn seven and start school! He tries to convince his father in every imaginable way, and seeks help from his imaginary friend. Albert regains hope when he meets a real-life magician. Perhaps he could make his dream come true? But it is not as easy as he thinks. However, in the end, his dream does come true, in the most unexpected manner.
“Alfie represents a real boy in a real world. But he's a rather special boy since he is also a world-famous children's book character created by Gunilla Bergström. For me this represented a great and inspiring challenge. The Alfie Atkins books have a subtle serenity and wisdom, but also a lot of excitement and humour. The story of Alfie's desire for a dog was an opportunity to make a film that could offer an emotionally and visually rich cinema experience for our youngest moviegoers. I wanted to show as large a spectrum of human emotions as possible in a way that both children and adults can relate to.” (Torill Kove)
In Slovenian language.
Torill Kove
Born in 1958 in Hamar, Norway. In 1982, Kove moved to Canada, where she studied urban planning, and subsequently took up studies of animation at the Concordia University, during which time she received the Kodak Award for Best Student Film. After three Academy Award nominations for Best Short Film, she received the Award in 2006 for The Danish Poet. Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins is her first animated feature film.
filmography
2001 My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts (short anim.)
2006 The Danish Poet (short anim.)
2013 Hokus pokus Albert Åberg (Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins)
2014 Me and My Moulton (short anim.)