Pagan spirituality encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices that are rooted in pre-Christian traditions and have evolved over time to incorporate various cultural and spiritual influences. One of the most distinctive aspects of pagan spirituality is its emphasis on nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings. This is reflected in the worship of a variety of nature deities and the honoring of seasonal cycles and natural rhythms. Some pagans follow a specific tradition or path, such as Wicca, Druidry, or Heathenry. Wiccans worship a goddess and god, often represented as a triple goddess and horned god, and celebrate eight seasonal festivals known as Sabbats. Druids, on the other hand, draw inspiration from ancient Celtic practices and hold nature in high regard.
I came across this strange film when reading an André Bazin essay that attempts to explore "The Virtues and Limitations of Montage". Bazin uses this film as an example of montage in the children's film genre, noting it as a movie that, though it is impressively and meticulously designed, is faulted for its contrivance stemmed form the use of montage (editing). To understand what Bazin was talking about, I decided to watch this movie - the only version being in French. This is strangely amusing and a very surreal kind of fantasy through which Tourane creates the illusion of dogs, mice, birds and foxes living and interacting on a magical island. This is done through a very clear trick of…
Within the first three minutes of The Secret of Magic Island , a duck drives a truck, a dog pours a cocktail, and a family of bunnies wash up and make breakfast. The town after the wand has begun to work its dark magic is devastated, as if it had been hit by a tidal wave, and there s also a very well-done sequence where our heroes are escaping from the troll through a forest, as he casts fireballs at their vehicle.
Druids, on the other hand, draw inspiration from ancient Celtic practices and hold nature in high regard. They honor the spirits of trees, stones, and natural landmarks and perform rituals in sacred groves. Heathens, or followers of Heathenry, connect with the ancient Norse and Germanic traditions, worshiping gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, and Freya.
The Secret of Magic Island (1957)
There are some films for which any description is likely inadequate: “You have to see it,” is certainly a cheap cop-out for critical purposes, but I can’t think of many cases where it is more warranted than here. This is a short feature (clocking in a little under an hour), set in a small town populated entirely by animals. Not puppets. Not animation. Actual animals. If you can imagine a live-action version of Zootopia – fortunately, without the heavy-handed moralizing – you’d be in the right area. The animals here do everything from drive vehicles to playing billiards: I’ve no clue how much of this was accomplished, and the truth is, I probably don’t want to know. My guess is, glue appears likely to have been involved, and also that it couldn’t be made in a first-world country under modern standards for animal use in films.
The story concerns a magic wand belonging to a fairy (the original French title translates as “ A fairy… like no other “), which is being kept safe by the town’s feline music teacher, Maestro Ericson. But envious eyes are being cast at the wand and the power it contains by a black troll – actually a monkey. He disguises himself as a baker, and bribes one of Maestro Ericson’s pupils, a dog called Charlie, into giving up the tune which opens the wand’s case. Disaster befalls the town, and it’s up to Charlie, Maestro Ericson and a duckling called Per to make their way into the troll’s castle and recover the wand, before any more damage can occur [The version I saw was dubbed into Swedish, which should explain the thoroughly un-French names! I normally avoid dubbed films, but there’s no actual dialogue here – I probably don’t have to point that out! – and it’s all narrated, so the language doesn’t matter much]
There’s two sections to the film. The first half is mostly a “day in the life of” the town, depicting the various inhabitants as they go about their business, and succeeds in provoking the entire range of emotions from “Aw, isn’t that cute?” to “This is just wrong…” The former would be the kitten getting out of bed in the morning. The latter? Probably the fox giving a beauty treatment to a chicken, which mostly left me wondering how many chickens they went through over the course of production. Then the carnival comes to town, climaxing in a firework display – because we all know how much animals love fireworks! – and we move to the second phase, which depicts the troll’s theft of the wand, and the furry band of brothers’ efforts to get it back.
This probably more successful, because there’s an actual story there, and it also allows Tourane to showcase some genuinely impressive model work. The town after the wand has begun to work its dark magic is devastated, as if it had been hit by a tidal wave, and there’s also a very well-done sequence where our heroes are escaping from the troll through a forest, as he casts fireballs at their vehicle. It’s genuinely impressive, even close to 60 years later. The sets are great, and you may find yourself actually caring about the fate of Per, Charlie and Maestro Ericsson – even if the last-named is so laid-back as to be virtually horizontal, and when it comes to the final assault, “Ericsson decided to stay behind,” according to the narration. The ending makes more sense than some fantasy films I’ve seen, and the whole thing feels more than a little influenced by Jean Cocteau.
Yes, it’s clearly a complete gimmick of a movie, and in that way also reminded me of something like The Terror of Tiny Town, the 1938 Western performed entirely by little people, including not a few former Munchkins. This doesn’t necessarily make it a bad thing: some gimmicks stand the test of time better than others, and in a case like this, you’re dealing with something that is virtually unique, and is highly likely to remain that way. For, while there have been other films starring animals – Disney had a slew of them, such as The Incredible Journey – they’ve all been playing animals. You certainly can’t judge this by anything approaching normal critical standards: “I was unconvinced by the performance of the duckling, in the role of… a duckling.” You can only look at it as a technical accomplishment: does it create a universe allowing the viewer to suspend their disbelief and accept the batshit-crazy premise?
The answer there, is a qualified “Yes.” Some aspects don’t work, even outside some of the more… lethargic animals, shall we say. For instance, the sound effect for mailman’s Gustaf’s truck appears to consist of someone blowing a raspberry, which doesn’t do much to foster the illusion of magical realism. You can argue too, that the first half is little more than extended scene-setting; the black troll is mentioned in the opening voice-over, than barely shows up again for the next 30 minutes. However, there’s enough that does work, and the sheer originality of what you’re seeing kept me engrossed, simply to see what happens next. Plus, I should stress, this was watched on nothing more mind-altering than a glass (admittedly, a large) of Kona Longboard Lager. It may not be something Chris and I ever watch again, yet in an era of increasingly forgettable mainstream cinema, it’s also something we’re not likely to forget anytime soon.
So: you have to see it. And courtesy of the YouTubes, below you can do just that. Closed captions can be enabled, should you desire.
Want more?
Follow us on Letterboxd
The carnival is coming to town! Unfortunately, the Good Fairy's wand is stolen by the diabolical Black Troll. And he turns The Poet's girlfriend to stone! It's up to The Poet to brave the darkness at the edge of the forest and journey to the Troll's mountain lair to save the day! Also the Black Troll is a monkey and The Poet is a duck. FYI.
They often emphasize honor, kinship, and a deep connection with their ancestral heritage. Other pagans choose to practice in a more eclectic or individualized manner, drawing from different ancient traditions or creating their own spiritual practices. These pagans might incorporate elements of ceremonial magic, divination, or folk traditions into their rituals and beliefs. Some may identify as polytheists, believing in the existence of multiple gods and goddesses, while others may see the gods and goddesses as archetypes or symbols of different aspects of the human psyche. In addition to their beliefs and rituals, pagans often have a strong emphasis on ethics and personal responsibility. Many follow a moral code that promotes harm to none, and strive to live in harmony with the natural world and other living creatures. They may also engage in acts of activism or social justice, advocating for the protection of the environment and the rights of marginalized communities. Overall, the diversity of pagan spirituality reflects the rich tapestry of human experience and the varied ways in which individuals seek to connect with the divine and find meaning in the world. While there are common threads that run through different pagan traditions, each path is unique and reflects the personal journey of the practitioner..
Reviews for "The Importance of Ethics and Morality in Pagan Spirituality"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Distinctive types of pagan spirituality" as I have a strong interest in pagan beliefs and practices. However, I was disappointed with this book. The author seems to have a biased viewpoint and presents only a limited perspective on the various types of pagan spirituality. The information provided is shallow and lacks depth. I expected more in-depth analysis and a comprehensive overview of paganism, but this book fell short.
2. John - 1 star - This book was a complete waste of my time. The title is misleading, as it doesn't explore distinctive types of pagan spirituality at all. Rather, it focuses on one specific type and fails to provide a well-rounded understanding of paganism. The writing style is also dry and monotonous, making it difficult to stay engaged. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of pagan spirituality.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As someone who is new to the world of paganism, I was eager to gain insights into different types of pagan spirituality. Unfortunately, "Distinctive types of pagan spirituality" was a letdown. The author's writing style is convoluted and difficult to follow, making it hard to absorb the information presented. Additionally, the book lacks depth in its exploration of pagan spirituality, providing only surface-level information. I was left wanting more in terms of explanation and analysis. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.