‘Justice, morality and triumph’: why Matilda is my feelgood movie
The author reflects on the 1996 film 'Matilda' as a source of comfort, emphasizing themes of justice, morality, and the triumph of the underdog. The piece connects the film's narrative to the author's personal childhood experiences with literature.
Why it matters
It explores the cultural impact of children's media and its role in providing emotional resilience and escapism.
Mara Wilson in Matilda. Photograph: Tristar/Allstar Mara Wilson in Matilda. Photograph: Tristar/Allstar My feelgood movie Movies ‘Justice, morality and triumph’: why Matilda is my feelgood movie The latest in our series of writers picking their most meaningful comfort watches is a tribute to the inspiring power of the 1996 Roald Dahl adaptation
Prefer the Guardian on Google W hen I think about what makes me feel good, it isn’t fantasy or escapism; it’s justice, morality and triumph – sizing up to a bully bigger than you and prevailing against the odds. I never fail to be charmed by the story of an underdog, someone who shouldn’t win but finds a way through resilience, determination or sometimes a genius loophole and a little bit of magic, and no film hits those attributes harder for me than Danny DeVito’s Matilda.
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