Movie
Description
Ole Lukøje is the sleep spirit who appears in the animated feature Fables from Hans Christian Andersen, where he is usually referred to as Uncle Ole. His character is rooted in the literary fairy tale of the same name that Hans Christian Andersen published in 1841, which in turn draws on Scandinavian folk tradition concerning a gentle, sandman-like figure who visits children at night to bring them sleep and dreams. In the film, he comes to the young Hans, a boy who dreams of becoming a fairy tale writer, and he serves as the guide for the dreamlike journey that makes up much of the story.
In personality, Ole Lukøje is gentle, patient, and genuinely fond of children. In the original tale he is described as the best storyteller in the world, knowing more stories than anyone else, and his only wish is for children to settle down so that he can share those stories with them. He moves quietly and without alarming anyone, approaching in soft socks so that he is barely noticed, and he never intends any harm. His manner is warm and reassuring, and he treats sleep not as an end to the day but as the doorway to wonder.
His motivation in the film is closely tied to young Hans and his ambition. Because Hans longs to become a writer of fairy tales, Uncle Ole nurtures that dream by leading him into story-filled adventures drawn from Andersen's well-known works, including The Little Match Girl, Thumbelina, and The Red Shoes. In these episodes his role is that of a frame character and storyteller: he introduces the dream journeys, stays near the boy as the tales unfold, and helps connect the separate stories into a single flowing musical experience. He is the connecting presence between the ordinary world of young Hans and the fantastic worlds of the fairy tales.
His notable abilities are tied to the magic of sleep and dreams. In the original tale he sprinkles very fine dust into children's eyes to make them drowsy, then blows softly on their necks until their heads begin to droop. He carries two umbrellas under his arms. One is decorated with pictures on the inside, and when he spreads it over good children they dream the most beautiful stories all night long. The other umbrella is plain and without pictures, and when held over naughty children it makes them sleep heavily and wake in the morning without having dreamed at all. He also wears a coat of silk whose color seems to shift as he moves, changing from green to red to blue, and he is able to appear and move in near silence.
The development of the character is shown mainly through his relationship with Hans. He acts as both a protector and an inspiration, and by showing the boy the worlds contained within the stories he encourages the dream of becoming a storyteller, a calling that will shape Hans's future. In the underlying fairy tale there is a more solemn dimension to the character, because he introduces his brother, who also carries the name Ole Lukøje and is known as Death. That brother visits every person only once and carries them away on his horse, telling them a story that is either wonderfully beautiful or impossible to describe in its grimness. In the animated film, however, Ole Lukøje is presented in his kinder aspect, as a friendly, uncle-like figure whose purpose is to bring comfort, imagination, and peaceful dreams to a child who needs them.
In personality, Ole Lukøje is gentle, patient, and genuinely fond of children. In the original tale he is described as the best storyteller in the world, knowing more stories than anyone else, and his only wish is for children to settle down so that he can share those stories with them. He moves quietly and without alarming anyone, approaching in soft socks so that he is barely noticed, and he never intends any harm. His manner is warm and reassuring, and he treats sleep not as an end to the day but as the doorway to wonder.
His motivation in the film is closely tied to young Hans and his ambition. Because Hans longs to become a writer of fairy tales, Uncle Ole nurtures that dream by leading him into story-filled adventures drawn from Andersen's well-known works, including The Little Match Girl, Thumbelina, and The Red Shoes. In these episodes his role is that of a frame character and storyteller: he introduces the dream journeys, stays near the boy as the tales unfold, and helps connect the separate stories into a single flowing musical experience. He is the connecting presence between the ordinary world of young Hans and the fantastic worlds of the fairy tales.
His notable abilities are tied to the magic of sleep and dreams. In the original tale he sprinkles very fine dust into children's eyes to make them drowsy, then blows softly on their necks until their heads begin to droop. He carries two umbrellas under his arms. One is decorated with pictures on the inside, and when he spreads it over good children they dream the most beautiful stories all night long. The other umbrella is plain and without pictures, and when held over naughty children it makes them sleep heavily and wake in the morning without having dreamed at all. He also wears a coat of silk whose color seems to shift as he moves, changing from green to red to blue, and he is able to appear and move in near silence.
The development of the character is shown mainly through his relationship with Hans. He acts as both a protector and an inspiration, and by showing the boy the worlds contained within the stories he encourages the dream of becoming a storyteller, a calling that will shape Hans's future. In the underlying fairy tale there is a more solemn dimension to the character, because he introduces his brother, who also carries the name Ole Lukøje and is known as Death. That brother visits every person only once and carries them away on his horse, telling them a story that is either wonderfully beautiful or impossible to describe in its grimness. In the animated film, however, Ole Lukøje is presented in his kinder aspect, as a friendly, uncle-like figure whose purpose is to bring comfort, imagination, and peaceful dreams to a child who needs them.