La fée printemps

This movie is yet another attempt to copy Georges Melies by Segundo de Chomon. Chomon, as a result, is long forgotten, as Melies has become more famous than his rival. Still, this brief, early trick film from Chomon is still pretty good, especially for when it was made. The effects aren't anything particularly new for their time, but the use of some coloring for the fairy and the flowers makes the short good to look at. Another thing is that it does tell a story, something Melies often neglected in his movies. While there's nothing new here that stands out, it's very good for 1902 and is still nice to watch today.

For 1902, this is a pretty amazing and sweet film, though it will seem very quaint today. When the film begins, it's snowing. An old woman is invited in to the farmers' home. She then reveals herself to be a magic fairy and makes the snow disappear and flowers magically appear (all done by reversing the film as well as stop-motion). At the end, she gives the farmer and his wife a bouquet of flowers--out of which comes a baby! The film is incredibly lovely. It uses the photographic tricks and hand-stenciled color to create a film that seems more modern in style than 1902. Well worth seeing and rather cute. And, at about 3-4 minutes, this is actually a pretty lengthy film for the time.