Inkheart (HBO)

About Inkheart (HBO)

Inkheart is a 2008 adventure fantasy film directed by Iain Softley and based on the novel of the same name by Cornelia Funke. The film follows Mo 'Silvertongue' Folchart whose extraordinary talent of bringing characters to life when reading a book aloud leads to a dangerous adventure when he accidentally summons the villain from his wife's favorite book, Inkheart. To save his kidnapped wife Resa, Mo and his daughter Meggie must somehow send the villain back to the book.

Making / Production

The film was produced by New Line Cinema, and Iain Softley directed it. It was shot mainly in Liguria and Lombardy in Italy, which beautifully showcased the book's essential European setting. Rather than a modern setting, Softley chose to depict an older, more timeless Europe, thus enhancing the mythical aspect of the story.

Actors

• Brendan Fraser as Mortimer "Mo" Folchart - As the father who can bring book characters to life, Fraser displays a mix of courage and desperation.
• Eliza Bennett as Meggie Folchart - Meggie is Mo's daughter who shares his talent. Bennett gives an earnest performance as the innocent yet brave Meggie.
• Paul Bettany as Dustfinger - Bettany shines as the tormented character desperately wanting to return to his book, illustrating an intense portrayal of guilt and yearning.
• Helen Mirren as Elinor Loredan - Playing Meggie's great-aunt, Mirren effectively encapsulates the character's eccentricity and fierce love for books.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The author of the original book, Cornelia Funke, named the character Mo after actor Brendan Fraser, as she pictured him in her mind while writing the character.
• The film's setting was carefully selected in Italy to lend the film an old-world charm and timeless aesthetic.
• The word "silvertongue", Mo's nickname, comes from English folklore and refers to a person who has a gift for persuasion.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Javier Navarrete, known for his work on "Pan's Labyrinth".
• The soundtrack includes tracks that perfectly underscore the film's sense of adventure and magic, such as "Story of the Night", "Death of Capricorn", and "The Shadow."

Quotes

• Dustfinger: "He's more of a danger to himself than to the story."
• Meggie Folchart: "You read to us from books, but you've never read me my mom's book."
• Mortimer 'Mo' Folchart: "Trust me, you don't want me to read aloud."