The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (film) facts for kids

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a short fantasy film from 2023. It was written and directed by Wes Anderson. The film is based on a short story by the famous author Roald Dahl. This is the second time Wes Anderson has made a movie from a Roald Dahl book, after Fantastic Mr. Fox in 2009. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar, along with Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade. It tells the story of a rich man who learns how to see without his eyes. He wants to use this special skill to win money at games.

This film is the first of four short movies based on Roald Dahl's stories. The other films are "The Swan", "The Rat Catcher", and "Poison". The movie was filmed in London in January 2022.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar first showed at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2023. It was then shown in some theaters on September 20, 2023. Finally, it was released on Netflix on September 27, 2023. The other three short films by Wes Anderson based on Dahl's stories came out on Netflix on the days after.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. This was Wes Anderson's first Oscar win.

What the Story is About

The film follows a rich man named Henry Sugar. He loves to gamble and uses his money for this hobby. One day, he finds a special book. This book tells the story of a man named Imdad Khan. Imdad claimed he could see things without using his eyes.

Imdad Khan was a runaway who joined a circus. There, he met a wise teacher called The Great Yogi. The Yogi taught Imdad a special way to meditate. This meditation helped Imdad gain his amazing ability to see without his eyes.

Henry Sugar decides to try and learn this skill himself. He practices for three years by staring at a candle flame. He also pictures the face of someone he loves. After much practice, Henry learns to see through playing cards. He can now tell what cards are on the other side.

Henry uses his new power at a casino. He wins a lot of money, about £30,000. But he doesn't feel happy about winning so easily. He throws the money off his balcony into the street. This causes a small problem, and a police officer suggests he find a better way to use his money.

Henry decides to travel the world. He uses his special ability to win money from casinos. He wears different disguises so no one recognizes him. With the money he wins, he builds many hospitals and orphanages around the world. He helps a lot of people.

Twenty years later, Henry Sugar knows he will die. He can see a blood clot inside his body. After he passes away, his accountant asks Roald Dahl to write Henry's story. This is why the film is called The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

Who is in the Film

• Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar / Max Engelman
• Ralph Fiennes as Roald Dahl / The Policeman
• Dev Patel as Dr. Chatterjee / John Winston
• Ben Kingsley as Imdad Khan / The Dealer
• Richard Ayoade as Dr. Marshall / The Great Yogi
• David Gant as Casino Croupier
• Jarvis Cocker cameos as a casino receptionist and several friends of Henry Sugar.

How the Film Was Made

In September 2021, Netflix bought the company that owns Roald Dahl's stories. This led to many new projects based on his books. The film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar was announced in January 2022. It was confirmed that Wes Anderson would write and direct it. Netflix would release the film.

Soon after, Benedict Cumberbatch joined the cast as Henry Sugar. Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, and Ben Kingsley also joined the movie. Later, Richard Ayoade became part of the cast too.

Filming for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar started in London in January 2022. At first, people thought it would be a full-length movie. But in June 2023, Wes Anderson said it would be one of several short films.

When the Film Was Released

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar was first shown at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2023. It had a short run in theaters in New York and California starting September 20. The movie was then released for everyone to watch on Netflix on September 27, 2023.

See also

In Spanish: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar para niños