The Magic Tree

This kiddies' tale from Poland pulls all the right strings. When a magical chair with the power to grant wishes mysteriously comes into the lives of a talented but poor musical family, their fortunes are at first turned turtle before a faint whiff of optimistism permeates the frame and we sense a satisfactory outcome. It's a small, slight family film with elements of 'Nanny McPhee' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' thrown into the mix. The cheap special effects are mostly convincing, there's a strange plausability in the way it treats its fantastical subject matter, and the kids, especially, light up the screen; youngsters of reading age (it's subtitled) will doubtless find it quite a hoot. I know I did.