Hogfather

Terry Pratchett fans long waited for the transformation of Discworld tales into visuals. Computer games, animations and stage productions were all right in their place, but film adaptations are the mark of success. Pratchett resisted adaptations because most producers "didn't get it". Vadim Jean "got it" and has made the story of "Hogfather" into a fine film presentation. As a TV production, there are limitations and omissions, but these do not detract from the success of Jean's efforts to bring Pratchett's story of intrigue, power and imagination to the small screen.

But what of the newcomer to Pratchett and his Discworld? Will they gain the same satisfaction from the visual presentation of one of the more compelling [and best-selling] authors of the past generation? The DVD opens with a Bang. Not a very Big one, but enough to discharge a wondrous sight - a disc sitting atop four elephants who stand on the carapace ["shell"] of a giant tortoise. The vision certainly imparts the feeling that something unusual will follow. Which it does: a young governess is reading "Jack And The Beanstalk" to a pair of youngsters on Hogswatch Eve. Tucking them in, Susan notes: "If you don't believe in the Hogfather, there won't be any presents." It is the film's key statement.

For the Hogfather has gone missing. This may be because the Auditors of the Universe, who resent life and loathe humans because they're unpredictable, have commissioned Guild of Assassins to have the Hogfather "brought to an end". The Guild's Head assigns the job to a young Assassin, Mister Teatime ["Tee-ah tim-eh, most people get it wrong, Sir."] who has already devised a plan to accomplish it. Teatime gathers a team to put his plan into effect. This scheme starts by kidnapping the Tooth Fairy. Wot?

Meanwhile, across town, the wizards of the Unseen University are experiencing some bizarre events. Strange new beings enter their lives - not entirely strange, however, since they all seem to represent tales of their childhood. Among the wizards is one who has constructed HEX, a "thinking machine". You can tell what it is from the label "Anthill Inside" pasted on one side. Archchancellor Ridcully is suspicious of such devices, but thinks he can make HEX do his bidding by mere shouting.

Throughout these events, an Anthropomorphic Personification, known as Death, feels an imbalance in the universe. Discovering the Hogfather has failed to go out on his rounds delivering gifts, Death dons a red suit, a false beard and, with his assistant Albert, undertakes the role. Death is interested in humans, finding their habits and prejudices fascinating, and he wants to know more about them. The rituals of Hogswatch [Christmas] are but one aspect. Those rituals extend from deep time and are thereby fundamental. Resolution of the Hogfather's disappearance and the Teatime Gang's invasion of the Tooth Fairy's castle are gently woven into the film's concluding scene. There are many threads and the novice Discworld viewer will note there are many levels to the story. That's what turns the first Discworld encounter into a habit.

There are "big names" in this film - listed lead David Jason does a fine job as Albert, while Ian Richardson's voice of Death is peerless. The surprise here is Michelle Dockery, who picks up this film early and keeps it essentially hers throughout. She is relatively unknown, but won't be after this. As a robed "skellington", Death is hardly visually appealing, but Richardson's inflections on Pratchett's text keep us smiling. Unlike many "fantasy" or SciFi films, "Hogfather" relies on little in the way of "special effects beyond Death's character. Some snow stops falling and a few sparkling things are used, but the story is too straightforward to need extra dazzlement. As with Pratchett's stories it's the characters and what they tell us that counts. Watch this and see. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

As a long time discworld addict, I was prepared to forgive almost anything from someone who was brave enough to bring 'Hogfather' to life, but it turned out there was nothing to forgive. Vadim Jean has captured the spirit of the story perfectly even though he was forced to omit many wonderful scenes and details that didn't make it from book to movie. My seven year old son has become extremely fond of Death (not death!), which is a testament to the genius of Terry Pratchett, Ian Richardson (THE VOICE) and the others involved, the Grim Reaper is not usually such a sympathetic character. The movie may not make perfect sense to a non-Disworld fan, but certainly will pique his/her interest in the rest of the series. Most of the characters, especially Susan and the assassin Teatime were pitch-perfect. Even the actor playing Nobby Nobbs got the personality down, although Nobby's unique physical characteristics would be almost impossible to duplicate without CG effects. I am looking forward to the next live-action adaptation of the Discworld.

I bought Hogfather because I Iove Terry Pratchett's work. I am not normally a reader of either fantasy or science fiction, but what Pratchett writes is brilliant and very funny satire about our world, disguised as the imaginary Discworld. If Hogfather and Pratchett's other works are "mere fantasy" so is Gulliver's Travels. Where Swift and Pratchett differ, however, is in Pratchett's huge generosity of spirit and affection for his characters. Where Swift points out our human flaws with "savage indignation", Pratchett does it through laughter. Susan and Death are among my favourite characters.
The video is brilliantly done, faithful to the work, superbly acted by a cast of some of Britain's best performers, and with very high production values. I would say exactly the same of the other video I purchased, The Colour of Magic. I watched a friend's video of Going Postal. Same thing. I haven't seen any of the animated versions. Not sure I want to.