Eleanor's Secret
| Company type | Animated film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Film |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Dominique Monféry (director) |
| Products | Animated movie |
Eleanor's Secret (original French title Kérity, la maison des contes) is a 2009 animated movie directed by Dominique Monféry. The story follows a young boy tasked with rescuing fairy tale characters who have come to life.
Plot
Nathaniel, a seven-year-old boy, and his sister Angelica inherit the quirky home of their Aunt Eleanor. Angelica ridicules Nathaniel for his inability to read. According to Eleanor's will, Nathaniel receives the key to a locked room full of books she once read to him, while Angelica is given a porcelain doll. Initially, Nathaniel feels uneasy about the books.
When a storm damages the house and repair funds are unavailable, Nathaniel consents to selling the books. Upon returning to the attic, he finds miniature versions of characters such as Alice in Wonderland, Puss in Boots, Pinocchio, and Little Red Riding Hood have come alive. They explain that he must read a magical spell to preserve their existence; otherwise, they will disappear within five hours. Since Nathaniel cannot read the spell, the malevolent witch Carabosse accuses him and shrinks him to their size.
An antique dealer plans to resell the rare first-edition books at a high price by pretending they are worthless. Nathaniel, Alice, and an ogre—who learns about friendship beyond hunger—are taken to the dealer’s shop and must find a way back to Eleanor’s house to recite the spell. After overcoming numerous threats, they arrive just in time for Nathaniel to read the incantation aloud.
He compels the witch to restore his original size and persuades his parents of the books’ true worth. Angelica uncovers valuable jewelry hidden inside her doll, which provides money for repairing the house. The siblings reconcile and spend time reading together in the attic.
Cast
| Characters | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel | Pascal Berger | Arthur Dubois |
| Angelica | Stéphane Flamand | Stéphane Flamand |
| Mom | Julie Gayet | Sharon Mann |
| Dad | Denis Podalydès | David Gasman |
| Eleanor | Jeanne Moreau | Jodi Forrest |
| Alice | Prunelle Rulens | Hester Wilcox |
| Ogre | Chilly Gonzalez | David Gasman |
| Carabosse | Liliane Rovère | Christine Flowers |
Music
The original score for the film was created by Christophe Héral. On 14 December 2009, Alphanim Musique released a digital soundtrack containing 24 tracks that highlight key musical themes enhancing the film’s emotional and narrative elements.
Track Listing
Release
Eleanor's Secret experienced a limited theatrical release in the United Kingdom and became available on DVD in 2011 through Soda Pictures. It debuted at the 2010 Seattle International Film Festival but did not receive a widespread theatrical release in the United States. Later, it was distributed directly to video in the US on 12 August 2014 by GKIDS and Cinedigm, broadening its availability via home entertainment platforms.
Critical response
Jim Batts from We are Movie Geeks commended the film’s distinctive book-inspired visual approach and its positive message encouraging children to develop a love for reading: "This is a charming, imaginative journey that should spark many hours (or rainy days) of adventures through books."
Jay Weissberg provided a mixed critique, pointing out some clichéd dialogue and an unsatisfying ending but praised the creative visual style and uplifting orchestral music.
Awards
The movie earned the special distinction award at the 2010 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was honored with the Best Feature Award during the 2011 Providence Children's Film Festival.