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The fantasy film was directed by Wolfgang Peterson. It stars Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach and Gerald McRaney. It is rated PG, is 102 minutes and was produced in 1984. Tickets range from $7 to $12.
Wolfgang Petersen adapted Michael Ende's children's story in this fantasy film that spawned several sequels.
In the film, Bastian (Oliver) is dealing with his mother's recent death. His father (McRaney) is an imperious sort who continually lambastes Bastian for daydreaming and falling behind in school. On top of his father's badgering, he has to contend with a bunch of school bullies waiting for him in the schoolyard.
One day, he decides to play hooky and walks into a strange bookstore, where in the attic, he discovers a book called "The Neverending Story."
As Bastian reads the book, he's enveloped in the unfolding tale. A sickly child-like empress (Stronach) from a land called Fantasia is concerned about who will take over the land if she dies. She decides it is best for Fantasia if she remains alive, so she dispatches a young warrior named Atreju (Hathaway) to find a cure for the empress's malady. It turns out the land is consumed with a plague called The Nothing, generated by blighted dreams and hopeless fantasies.
As Atreju continues onward to search for a cure for The Nothing, he encounters an assortment of strange creatures.
Bastian is so consumed with the tale he finds himself catapulted into the land of Fantasia himself. Atreju realizes the only way to save the land from its blight is with the help of this strange Earth boy.
For more information about the film, click here or call 203-967-3660
The Avon Theatre Film Center is at 272 Bedford St, Stamford.
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