The NeverEnding Story

A surrealist tale of childhood whimsy, The NeverEnding Story follows a young, shy Bastian as he dives into the realm of human imagination.

If chimeric hybrids, cryptic sphinxes, or talking werewolves sound like your type of fantasy thing, you absolutely can’t give this one a miss. Because here you’ll find all sorts of miscellaneous beings, with Falkor the dog-like dragon merely one of the lovable oddities Bastian meets on his quest.

Alone in the attic, Bastian uncovers a dusty, old, magic tome named The NeverEnding Story. And when he recognises his calling amidst the pages of the book, Bastian realises he’s stumbled upon the stuff of dreams. We witness Bastian’s descent into the land of Fantasia, the mystical home of The NeverEnding Story – which, it turns out for our protagonist, isn’t always as welcoming as it seems. It is Fantasia’s battle against “The Nothing” – a nihilistic darkness eclipsing everything it touches – that stands out thematically, one part of this story’s meta-textual, metaphysical exploration of identity and grief. We watch, enrapt, as Bastian tiptoes the tightrope of hope and despair, his story slipping tonally between nightmare and daydream. Brimming with strange critters and creatures galore, Bastian’s quest is bewitching, and will leave you wanting more.

Based on Michael Ende’s bestselling-novel, The NeverEnding Story is a film about holding onto hope, self-acceptance, and chasing those dreams.

Martha Gibbs