Alice

Without Alice Liddell, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland wouldn't exist. This British documentary explores the relationship between author Lewis Carroll and his muse, which came about through his employment at Oxford's Christchurch College, where Alice's father was dean. When the mathematics lecturer, born Charles Dodgson, met Alice in 1855, she was three years old, and he initially socialized more with her older siblings. Other members of the household would become Alice in Wonderland characters as well, such as the governess-inspired Queen of Hearts (the film posits Carroll himself as the White Rabbit). While the book sprang from a tale he spun to entertain the Liddell youngsters, Carroll also took inspiration from the works of William Blake and William Wordsworth, who both shared his belief in the innate wisdom of children. In college, Carroll took up photography in addition to writing, and young girls became his favorite subject. Although the program doesn't suggest any impropriety, it does note that pages from his diaries detailing this period no longer exist (removed by relatives). Alice herself later wrote, “Being photographed was a joy to us, not a penance.” Carroll broke with the Liddells before Alice's 1865 publication for reasons that remain unclear, although the documentary offers a convincing theory. Full of literary and historical detail, Alice features illustrations, photographs, and film clips related to Carroll and his work. DVD extras include the 1903 and 1915 silver-screen adaptations of Alice in Wonderland. Sure to be popular in the wake of Tim Burton's recent 3-D extravaganza, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)