Eleanor's Secret
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Detailed parental analysis
Kérity, la maison des contes is a fantasy animated film with an atmosphere that is both warm and at times unsettling, carried by a poetic sensibility that is rare for the genre. A young boy inherits the magical library of his deceased great-aunt and finds himself immersed in a world where fairy tale characters are very much real. The film is primarily aimed at children from 5-6 years old, with an emotional depth that also touches the adults accompanying them.
Underlying Values
The film builds its narrative around the value of reading and affective transmission between generations, defending the idea that invented stories have their own existence and real importance. Courage in the face of fear, solidarity between brother and sister, and self-transcendence are put forward in a concrete and embodied way, without heavy-handed moralising. A particularly interesting scene to discuss with a child shows a child-eating ogre capable of setting aside his impulses to preserve a friendship: the film thus raises the question of the true nature of beings and their capacity to change. The narrative also addresses parental financial worries and the pressure this can place on a child, which deserves to be named after viewing to prevent the child from identifying too heavily with this responsibility.
Parental and Family Portrayals
The parents are present but are going through a period of financial fragility that visibly preoccupies them. The protagonist child finds himself in an uncomfortable position where he perceives the family difficulties and feels the need to provide a solution. This pattern, whilst realistic, can resonate strongly with children living through similar situations at home. It is worth discussing after the film to remind the child that adult problems are not his responsibility.
Violence
Violence is absent in the strict sense, but the film contains several sequences of intense anxiety. An ordinary crab transforms into a threatening creature with red eyes when the characters are reduced to a tiny size, a strong wave sweeps away characters who come close to drowning, and a storm with lightning and thunder creates an oppressive atmosphere. These moments are narratively justified and lead to positive resolutions, but their intensity may surprise the most sensitive children. The film does not seek to frighten gratuitously: fear is in service of adventure and self-transcendence.
Social Themes
Grief occupies a central place in the narrative: the death of the great-aunt is the starting point of the entire story, and the film treats gently the question of what one passes on to those one loves after their disappearance. It is a valuable entry point for talking about death with a child, especially as the film offers a soothing vision of it centred on memory and affective legacy rather than on raw loss.
Strengths
The film achieves something quite rare: paying tribute to children's literature without turning it into an illustrated catalogue, by giving fairy tale characters a presence and vulnerability that make them endearing beyond their literary origins. The animation is carefully crafted, with an artistic direction that knows how to alternate between the warmth of interior spaces and the strangeness of the miniature world. The narration is sufficiently dense to keep a 6-year-old engaged whilst offering adults additional layers of reading on grief, transmission and the power of stories. The emotional intelligence of the screenplay, particularly in the way it treats the relationship between the two children and their connection to their deceased aunt, makes it a film that leaves a lasting impression.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is suitable from 5-6 years old, with a preference for accompanied viewing for the youngest due to a few sequences of sustained anxiety. Two discussion angles are particularly worth pursuing after the film: asking the child what he thinks about the idea that book characters might actually exist, and returning to the ogre scene to explore together whether people can change and what helps them to do so.
Synopsis
Natanaël, seven, still doesn't know how to read. His eccentric old aunt bequeaths her house to his parents and her book collection to the young boy. Nat discovers that the books serve as a shelter for all the heroes found in children's literature. They are the original characters and are counting on him for protection. For if they leave the library, they will disappear along with their stories forever! When his parents start selling off the books, Nathanaël, who is shrunk by the evil witch Carabosse, braves everything to save his tiny friends
Where to watch
Availability checked on Sep 11, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2009
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Countries
- France, Italy
- Original language
- FR
- Directed by
- Dominique Monfery
- Main cast
- Denis Podalydès, Jeanne Moreau, Julie Gayet, Liliane Rovère, Lorànt Deutsch, Pierre Richard, Chilly Gonzales, Ruy Abitbol, Paul Bandey, Natacha Body
- Studios
- Lanterna Magica, La Fabrique, Gaumont-Alphanim
Content barometer
- Violence1/5Mild
- Fear3/5Notable tension
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity1/5Accessible
- Adult themes0/5None