Review of
Hans Christian Andersen Animated Classics:
The Traveling Companion, DVD
Five out of five stars
Deviates significantly from the original, but still
very good
John is saddened
by the death of his father, and he has a dream shortly after his father died. In
that dream, he is told that everything will come out right. Setting off on a
journey to see the world, John is caught in a heavy rainstorm and takes refuge
in a small church. Exhausted, he falls asleep. He is awakened by the actions of
two grave robbers there to steal what they can from the coffin. In order to
make them stop, John gives them all his money.
They leave and
now John must continue with no food or water and no money with which to buy
any. He comes across a man playing a flute that is full of energy and surprises.
After healing a woman’s broken leg, the mystery man accompanies John to the
city where he literally sees the woman of his dreams. She is a princess with a
wicked streak. To win her hand in marriage, a suitor must answer three
questions, each of which has the form: “What am I thinking now?” If the suitor
fails to answer any of the questions, he is put to death.
With the help
of the traveling companion, John is able to answer all three questions and break
the spell that a wicked troll has on the princess. When their wedding is
announced, John learns that his traveling companion was the man whose grave
robbery he prevented.
This is an
example of the fairy tale genre where to get rich, one first become poor. For
if a person allows another to suffer, then fortune will not favor them. A good
lesson about the enlightened self-interest of doing good.
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