Matilda
Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy film co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, based on the 1988 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film stars Mara Wilson as the title character with DeVito (who also served a dual role as the narrator), Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles. The plot centers on the titular child prodigy who develops psychokinetic abilities and uses them to deal with her disreputable family and the tyrannical principal of her school.
Plot
Young genius Matilda Wormwood is neglected and mistreated by her used car salesman father Harry, her cheery bingo-obsessed mother Zinnia, and her older brother, Michael. Smart and independent, she finds solace in the fictional worlds of books at the public library. When Matilda's parents refuse to enroll her into school, she puts hydrogen peroxide in her father's hair tonic and glues his hat to his head. Harry catches Matilda reading Moby-Dick, rips it up, and forces her to watch game shows on television. Matilda becomes increasingly enraged until the television explodes.
More details
| author | Nicholas Kazan Robin Swicord |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | California |
| director | Danny DeVito |
| editor | Brent White Lynzee Klingman |
| events | dysfunctional family psychokinesis |
| genre | comedy fantasy |
| keywords | act adopt belong bingo car salesman cheer discover door lock elementary school fbi fbi agent federal bureau of investigation game show guam hair conditioner hair tonic haunt hydrogen peroxide iron maiden matilda wormwood middle school moby-dick murder newt older brother read red hair understand used car salesman vengeful spirit will will and testament |
| musicBy | David Newman |
| producer | Danny DeVito Felicity Dahl Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher |
| productionCompany | Jersey Films TriStar Pictures |
| publisher | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| recordedAt | California Long Beach |
| theme | children's comedy telekinesis |