Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Episode: THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE: Enchanting or just lost in the woods?

Date: March 26, 2026
Hosts: Mark Kermode (B) & Simon Mayo (A)

Episode Overview

This episode is a classic blend of Kermode and Mayo’s trademark insights—witty interplay, deep dives into the week’s major film releases, and a mix of listener correspondence and special guests. At its heart is the review of the new film adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree, with Mark and Simon weighing whether the film captures the enchantment of Enid Blyton’s classic or gets lost in a modern muddle. Supporting reviews include takes on “Splitsville” (a cynical rom-com), “They Will Kill You” (bloody action-horror), and a thoughtful interview with French director François Ozon about his adaptation of L’Étranger (The Stranger). Rounding out the show are lively discussions about the box office top 10, AI in film, women filmmakers, and the perennial Kermode & Mayo banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Old Radio Tech & Nostalgia (03:08–06:32)

• Simon launches into a nostalgic reminiscence about "cartwheels"—walls of cartridge tapes DJs used for jingles and clips. Mark fondly recalls the tactile joy of cart machines and their role in early broadcasting.
• Direct Quote:
  • “There was a kind of radio magic to it... I don’t want a digital equivalent. I want racks after racks of blue plastic with little bits of tape inside and rubbish labeling, handwritten… opener or hey, hilarious, 35 seconds, that kind of thing.” (A, 03:30)

2. AI and Film: Industry Shifts and Listener Stories (08:18–10:26)

• Listener Julian Evitz shares his experience seeing “No AI” signs at a craft fair, echoing recent podcast discussions about artificial intelligence.
• Simon reads an AI Film Festival press release (April 21–22, Cannes), inviting listeners to attend and report back.
• “No technology will ever replace the sensitivity and perspective of artists. It can, however, open new horizons and enrich new forms of expression.” (A, reading press release, 09:20)

3. Review: Splitsville (10:37–16:44)

• Mark reviews this “raggedy, polyamorous anarcho rom-com” (poster’s description), finding surprising value in its satirical, darkly comic exploration of open relationships, infidelity, and the myth of modern romance.
• Highlights:
  • Absurd slapstick scenes, especially a never-ending fistfight.
  • Nicholas Braun’s (Succession’s “Greg”) standout deadpan performance.
  • “You don’t know what a boat is worth until you’ve sunk it.” (film quote relayed by B, 15:25)
• Simon: “They do still sound insufferable, though.” (A, 16:44)
• Mark: “Yes, they are insufferable. But just because a film has insufferable people in it, does that make the film insufferable? And the answer is no.” (B, 16:46)

4. Box Office Top 10 (19:52–34:43)

• Comic, rapid-fire recap of top-earning films, with listener feedback on odd title changes (“Good Boy”/“Heel”), and critique of generic sequels and overextended franchises (e.g., “a duology within a trilogy,” 24:27).
• Reviewers and listeners share thoughts on “Project Hail Mary,” “Ready or Not 2,” and “Durand the Revenge,” contrasting approaches to violence, plot, and science in genre cinema.
• “That’s the thing now—the third part of a trilogy becomes a sub-duology. Heaven spare us.” (A, 24:53)
• Mark on "Project Hail Mary":
  • “It’s not about the science… The film is much more an odd couple thing that just happens to be in space.” (B, 33:24)
• Simon: “If you want it to make scientific sense, read the book, because it absolutely does.” (A, 33:45)
• Mark: "Can men have friends? And the answer is yes, but only if the future of all humanity is at stake." (B, 34:43)

5. Interview: François Ozon on L’Étranger (36:51–49:44)

• Ozon reflects on re-reading Camus’s The Stranger, highlighting its enduring philosophical mystery and relevance to modern disaffection.
• Discusses resistance from Camus’s estate and adapting the novel with a contemporary, post-colonial lens.
• Key themes: Contextualizing colonial Algeria, restoring “the invisible Arabs,” framing the film in black and white for both artistic and economic reasons.
• “What shocked me when I read the book today was the invisibilizations of the Arabs. And I needed to understand why… It was not racism. It was just the period of its time.” (François Ozon, 41:18)
• “Merceau is a spectator of his life, and he becomes a real actor of his life in front of the priest… At this moment he becomes Camus in a certain way.” (Ozon, 45:30)

6. Review: They Will Kill You (50:05–56:47)

• Mark reviews a kinetic action-horror-comedy from Kirill Sokolov, likening its style to “Kill Bill on speed” and “Three Stooges with blood and guts for custard pies.”
• Comic praise (and confusion) for Patricia Arquette’s indecipherable accent.
• Simon: “It sounds southern English to me. Estuary English.” (A, 52:43)
• Mark: “Meant to be Irish.” (B, 52:49)
• Verdict: Visually striking, extremely bloody but gleefully unserious popcorn fare that delivers in-the-moment entertainment but is forgettable afterward.
• Simon: “A bit like a bag of Jelly Babies, really.” (A, 56:47)
• Mark: “I love Jelly Babies. I love Jelly Babies more than I love this.” (B, 56:53)

7. Listener Correspondence: Women in Cinema (62:27–63:46)

• Email from Holly Tarquini highlights the systemic hurdles for women filmmakers (“film is a machine for empathy… Yet for most of its history, audiences have been asked to see the world through the eyes of white cis straight able men”). Mark agrees, mentioning a women’s film archive project.
• “If we fixed representation here, we would all learn to see through many lenses. Our empathy would expand and that would change everything.” (Email, 62:54)

8. Review: The Magic Faraway Tree (63:53–71:08)

Synopsis & Setup

• Not originally familiar with the source, Mark summarizes the story: family moves to the country, kids forced off devices, stumble into a magical tree-world filled with whimsical characters and adventures.

Production & Tone

• Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2) pens the script; Ben Greger helms; star-studded cast includes Claire Foy (Polly), Andrew Garfield (Tim), Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson.
• The film updates Blyton’s world for today—addressing screens, feminism (“Clearly you haven’t heard of feminism,” daughter to Silky the fairy, 69:10), and smartphone addiction.

Kermode’s Take

• Mark enters skeptical (“my heart sank a little at the poster”), but finds a surprisingly charming, entertaining film with physical set design reminiscent of “Hook” rather than Tim Burton’s CGI-heavy fantasies.
• Praise for balancing child and adult appeal, standout performances, clever design, and Farnaby’s wit.
• “I went in with a cynical old grumpy head on and I was won over and charmed and I laughed and I was moved in all the right places.” (B, 70:31)
• Calls it “a rare treat for all the family,” and one of his films of the week.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI and film:
  “Feels like the devil has got his claws in the whole process… Yeah, but he’s gone to Cannes, so that’s fine.” (A & B, 10:14–10:17)
• Describing a film’s tone:
  “If you like your rom com served up with a hefty dose of cynicism and quite a lot of people hitting each other over the head with bits of chair, it’s a welcome relief from mainstream schmaltz.” (B, 16:28)
• On Jelly Babies:
  “If you could do some Jelly Babies, but just the black, green and yellow ones. Thanks very much.” (A, 57:20)

Notable Timestamps

• 03:08–06:32: Cartwheel/radio nostalgia segment
• 10:37–16:44: “Splitsville” review
• 19:52–34:43: Box office Top 10 and “Project Hail Mary” discussion.
• 36:51–49:44: Interview with François Ozon on L’Étranger
• 50:05–56:47: “They Will Kill You” review
• 63:53–71:08: “The Magic Faraway Tree” review

Episode Tone & Flow

The episode is lighthearted, warmly cynical, and intellectually restless—balancing affectionate lampooning of film culture with deeper reflections on the nature of adaptation, representation, and nostalgia. “The Magic Faraway Tree” anchors the episode with a cheerful, redemptive twist, revealing that even the most jaded critic can be enchanted under the right circumstances.

Films Reviewed

• Splitsville – Unromantic romantic comedy, cynical yet capably absurd.
• Project Hail Mary – Uplifting sci-fi, sparkles with emotional focus but divides listeners on its approach to scientific detail.
• They Will Kill You – Schlocky horror-comedy, bloody silly fun.
• The Magic Faraway Tree – Modern family fantasy, surprisingly charming and heartfelt adaptation.

Special Guest

• François Ozon (director), discussing his adaptation of Camus’s The Stranger—insights on contextualizing colonial-era literature for today and his creative process.

Closing & Recommendations

• Film of the Week: Mark picks a double header: “Orwell: Two Plus Two Equals Five” (to be reviewed in Take Two) & “The Magic Faraway Tree” (72:32).
• Simon awards Correspondent of the Week to Holly Tarquini for her email on women filmmakers and film empathy.

Useful For

Anyone seeking frank, funny, and insightful reviews of The Magic Faraway Tree, along with a well-rounded survey of new releases, industry trends (AI, representation), and the enduring pleasures of cinema—served with Kermode and Mayo’s unique blend of wit and warmth.