The Story of “La Fée aux Choux”
“La Fée aux Choux” (The Cabbage Fairy) is a pioneering short film that tells the story of a poor farmer and his wife who are granted the gift of a child thanks to the magic of a fairy. The film is notable for its simple but heartwarming story and its innovative use of intertitles, which convey the narrative to the audience. However, the film’s subject matter and themes might be considered unusual or unconventional for a first film.
In the late 1800s, when “La Fée aux Choux” was released, films were a relatively new medium and were still finding their footing in terms of storytelling and subject matter. Many early films were documentaries or actualities, which were short films that depicted real-life events or scenes. “La Fée aux Choux” is one of the first fictional films to be released, and its story of a poor couple being granted the gift of a child thanks to the magic of a fairy might be considered unconventional or even strange for a first film.
However, it is important to consider the social context of the time in which “La Fée aux Choux” was made. In the late 1800s, the concept of a fairy or supernatural being granting a child to a poor couple might have been more acceptable or even desirable. At the time, infant mortality rates were high, and many couples struggled to have children or to keep their children alive. The idea of a fairy granting a child to a poor couple might have been seen as a hopeful or uplifting story in this context.
Re-Edits and Restorations
“La Fée aux Choux” is a pioneering film that marked the beginning of the modern film industry, but the original version of the film has been lost. The film has undergone several re-edits and restorations over the years in an effort to preserve it for future generations, but these re-edits and restorations have inevitably changed the narrative of the film.
In the 1930s, a re-edited version of “La Fée aux Choux” was released with new intertitles and a new soundtrack. This version of the film was intended to make the film more accessible to modern audiences, but it is unclear how closely it reflects the original version of the film. More recently, in 2013, a restored version of the film was released as part of the film “Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché,” which tells the story of Guy-Blaché’s life and career. This version of the film was restored using surviving prints of the film, but it is likely that some elements of the film are missing or have been altered.
It is important to note that the re-edited and restored versions of “La Fée aux Choux” are not the original version of the film, and it is impossible to know exactly what the original film looked and sounded like. However, these re-edits and restorations have helped to preserve the film and make it more accessible to modern audiences.
Cabbages of the day
According to some accounts, the idea of babies being found in cabbage patches was a popular folk tale in France during the late 1800s. There are various versions of the story, but they all involve a baby being discovered in a cabbage patch and being taken in and raised by a poor couple. The idea of a baby being found in a cabbage patch might have been seen as a hopeful or uplifting story, particularly in a time when infant mortality rates were high and many couples struggled to have children or to keep their children alive.
ppl loving cabbage way too much
Cabbage Patch Kids Toys
The Cabbage Patch Kids toys are a popular line of dolls that were first introduced in 1978. The dolls are known for their unique appearance, which includes chubby cheeks, round noses, and tufts of yarn for hair. The dolls are also known for their unique origin story, which involves being “born” in a cabbage patch. This origin story is similar to the story of “La Fée aux Choux,” in which a baby appears in a cabbage patch thanks to the magic of a fairy.
It is possible that the Cabbage Patch Kids toys were influenced by “La Fée aux Choux” and its story of a baby appearing in a cabbage patch. However, it is important to note that the Cabbage Patch Kids toys are not directly connected to the film and are not officially based on “La Fée aux Choux.” It is possible that the toys simply drew inspiration from the film’s story and used it as a starting point for their own unique origin story.
Garbage Pail Kids Stickers and Films
The Garbage Pail Kids stickers and films are another media franchise that has a potential connection to “La Fée aux Choux.” The Garbage Pail Kids are a series of trading cards and stickers that were first introduced in the 1980s. The stickers feature grotesque and humorous depictions of children with exaggerated physical deformities and other abnormalities. The stickers were extremely popular and spawned a number of spin-off products, including a line of toys, a television show, and a feature film.
The connection between “La Fée aux Choux” and the Garbage Pail Kids lies in the fact that both franchises feature children who appear in unusual or unexpected places. In “La Fée aux Choux,” a baby appears in a cabbage patch thanks to the magic of a fairy, while in the Garbage Pail Kids franchise, the children are depicted as being found in trash cans, dumpsters, and other garbage-filled locations. It is possible that the Garbage Pail Kids franchise was inspired by “La Fée aux Choux” and its story of a child appearing in an unexpected place. However, it is important to note that the two franchises are not directly connected and that the connection is purely speculative.
Doesn’t look like she likes Babies very much does it?
Conclusion
“La Fée aux Choux” is a pioneering film that marked the beginning of the modern film industry and launched the career of Alice Guy-Blaché, one of the most successful and influential directors in the history of cinema. While the original version of the film has been lost, re-edits and restorations have helped to preserve the film and make it more accessible to modern audiences. The Cabbage Patch Kids toys and the Garbage Pail Kids stickers and films may have been influenced by “La Fée aux Choux” and its story of a child appearing in an unexpected place, but the connection between the two franchises is purely speculative. Overall, “La Fée aux Choux” is a memorable and influential film that continues to be recognized and celebrated for its pioneering storytelling techniques and its place in film history.
Would you like to know more about cabbages? Check out our article on the forgotten time of Cabbage Mania here.
https://memeenquirer.com/index.php/2023/01/02/the-cabbage-craze-of-the-1630s-a-forgotten-financial-bubble/
Or Find out more about the strange world of Alice here:
https://memeenquirer.com/index.php/2023/01/07/alice-guy-blache-the-pioneering-filmmaker-who-changed-the-face-of-cinema/
