The Little Matchgirl

20062006
GG
7min

A poor young girl has a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and envisions a very different life for herse... Read allA poor young girl has a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and envisions a very different life for herself in the fiery flames.A poor young girl has a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and envisions a very different life for herself in the fiery flames.

7.8/10

4.5K

Director
- Roger Allers
Writers
- Hans Christian Andersen(based on an original story by)
- Roger Allers(story adaptation by)
- Ed Gombert(story development)

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 nominations total

Amid an indifferent crowd in the snow-capped streets of Moscow, an impoverished and humble little girl struggles to eke out a living by selling matches, in this Roger Allers' adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's original story. Up against a relentless and mighty adversary, the poor seller reluctantly decides to warm herself by using the last of her matches, and, suddenly, clear and bright visions of a happy and carefree life start to envelop her. Look. There's her sweet and silver-haired grandmother. And over there, there's the family's dazzling Christmas tree. Dear God, can the fleeting but beautiful illusion be real in the morning? —Nick Riganas

christmas fairy tale hans christian andersen cold pipe 18 more

Taglines
- Even in the coldest night, a dream burns on forever.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- G
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
In 2005, Walt Disney Feature Animation finished production work on a new adaptation of "The Little Match Girl". The short was originally intended to be a part of "Fantasia 2006", but this project was canceled. The Little Matchgirl is last of the four shorts from the aborted compilation to be developed as a standalone film. It combines hand-drawn animation, computer techniques, and stylized backgrounds, and retains Andersen's tragic ending. This short was subsequently released as a special feature on the 2006 Platinum Edition DVD of "The Little Mermaid."

Connections
Featured in The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animation (2007)

Soundtracks
String Quartet #2 In D Major: 3rd Movement: Notturno (Andante)
Written by Aleksandr Borodin (as Alexander Borodin)
Performed by Emerson String Quartet
Violin: Philip Setzer
Violin: Eugene Drucker
Viola: Lawrence Dutton
Cello: David Finckel
The Emerson String Quartet appears courtesy of Duetsche Grammophon

Top review

9/10

The plight of a little girl set in turn of the century Russia.

One of the saddest cinematic displays I have ever seen. It is 2D rendered 3D animation overlaid with traditional illustrations as well. The animation is well done and coordinates well with the score. The film is very short, 11 min or so, but it is a simple plot with only one main character (the match girl), and by the end of the picture you are totally engaged in the girls plight. H.C. Anderson had a way with human despair, and this film captures that nature without one word uttered. I recommend this film despite its graphic illustration of society's malevolence and disregard. To be honest I have never read the original Anderson story, but it seems to have a similar tone to his other works (not the Disney adaptations).

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