Bastien le magicien

In a beloved Danish tradition in children's films, "Busters verden" is a highpoint. Directed by Oscar-winning director Bille August and written by popular Danish writer Bjarne Reuter, the film has become an absolute classic and a fine example of the magical realism that is perhaps the perfect style of film-making for young audiences. The story about a boy who uses magic tricks to help him deal with a young life's ordeals can be enjoyed by children as well as their parents.

The film is marked by wonderful craftsmanship in most aspects. The child actors in the film are so natural and well-directed that it is practically unequaled. The film's storytelling ability has a remarkable lightness to it so that it is able to tell a convincingly realistic story of a young boy without ever boring its viewers. And there is fine humour throughout the film which can be appreciated by young and old alike. In general, the story focuses wonderfully on subjects like curiosity, freedom and magic: Values of childhood, and of the child within.