The Nutcracker

A lavish adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's original story about a cursed nutcracker that comes to life at Christmas. Carter creates a marvellous setting complete with scenes straight out of the theatre, lush jewel-toned artwork, and spectacular paper engineering (a toy ballerina spins and the swan boat moves back and forth in the waves). From a snowy Christmas Eve in a clock and toy workshop, the intriguing story weaves its magical course. The ugly wooden nutcracker fights a fierce battle with the evil seven-headed mouse king, then takes young Marie, the girl who was kind to him when he was broken, on a magical tour of Christmas Wood and Candytown. By earning Marie's love, the spell over the nutcracker is broken. He turns back into a prince and marries Marie.