What a treat it is to review The Storyteller! Directed by Joe Crump, this irresistible film simply enchanted me from beginning to end. How could anyone not fall in love with the film’s main character, a little girl (Brooklyn Rae Silzer) who captures your heart in the wonderful opening sequence? Drenched from the rain, she enters a building -- which happens to be a nursing home -- and wanders into a room where an elderly woman (Constance Towers) appears to recognize her immediately. These two have a tender conversation that tugs at our heartstrings. But we begin to wonder if the child is just pretending to be “Abby,” the person the woman thinks she is. So our curiosity becomes aroused -- and our empathy for both characters couldn’t be more intense.

The rest of the movie follows Abby’s adventures as she helps a broken family come together after being taken home by the woman’s granddaughter (Samantha Colburn) -- who first agrees to this on a temporary basis. What will happen to Abby? We already want the best for her. However, we can’t help wondering about that tiny “Tinkerbell” thing she sees sometimes but no one else does.            

Magical and mysterious,

this dear girl simply delights us.

She brings joy to most everyone.

What has been done to make her run?

The girl is kind to her new friends.

We hope her time with them extends.

She helps lovers who were apart

and shares with others her big heart.

Sweet music lends a lovely touch.

We do shed tears, but not too much.

Our smiles match those up on the screen.

For kindness overrules the mean.

The Storyteller I declare

a film quite worthy of the fare.

Although child actress Silzer is the shining star here, the entire cast forms a splendid ensemble. Towers as the caring grandmother, Colburn as the uptight granddaughter, Cassidy Mack as the difficult step-daughter and James Snyder as the charismatic music teacher all seem perfect for their roles. Plus, including some heartfelt musical scenes makes the movie even more entertaining.         

I also enjoyed the film’s many surprises. Of course, I can’t say more about that -- except to predict you will enjoy them too.

It always seemed to me they’re both alike … magic and music. Spells and tunes. For one thing, you have to get them just right. --- Ursula K. Le Guin

Children see magic because they look for it. --- Christopher Moore

(Released by Indie Rights and rated “G” by MPAA. Available on Amazon Prime.)

For more information about The Storyteller, go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.