What is true love?

“Maleficent” is the back story to the wicked fairy of “Sleeping Beauty” fame. And, like all good stories, real and imagined, love, loss and betrayal is at the heart of this film.

It also offers a different perspective on the ever sought after “true love.”

Angelina Jolie stars as “Maleficent,” a fairy living in the forest bordering King Henry's castle. This magical realm (based on medieval Scotland) is a visual delight that had this reviewer wanting to pull a “Purple Rose of Cairo,” rise from my theater seat and walk into the film.

As a child fairy, Maelficent is loving and beloved by all the creatures in the wood. As she grows, the future queen of the fairies becomes fiercely protective of her world. Then comes the day when a teenaged human boy, Stefan, is discovered there.

When Maleficent hears about the human, she immediately flies to where he is being kept and befriends him. Shortly thereafter, Stefan captures her heart, by throwing away his iron ring (after it burns Maleficent and she explains that iron and fairies do not mix). That action, by an orphan, like herself, who quite likely threw away the only possession he had in the world — well, it must be love. And she cannot stop thinking about him.

Just before Maleficent's 16th birthday, Stefan gives her what he calls “true love's gift” — a kiss. Sadly, in order to gain the crown, Stefan betrays Maleficent in the worst possible way. After suffering injury and defeat by the Queen of the Fairies and the magical creatures, King Henry tells his knights he will pass his crown, and his daughter, on to the one will kills Maleficent.

Stefan returns to Maleficent, she forgives him for leaving him and they return to their former blissful state — or so she believes, until she wakes up in pain, and without her wings.

When King Stefan's queen is delivered of a daughter, named Aurora, the film really takes on the traditional “Sleeping Beauty” storyline. The christening, the three “good” fairies and their gifts, then Maleficent arrives, curses the child.  You know the story: 16th birthday, pricked finger, deep permanent sleep. When the king begs her on his knees to spare his daughter, Maleficent yields, a bit adding that only “true love's kiss” will be able to wake the sleeping beauty.

Maleficent is unconcerned the child will ever wake once asleep because, true love is non existent — right?

As Aurora grows, Maleficent is always there. Watching.

The effect Aurora has on Maleficent's heart, or what was left of it, is slow, but deftly revealed by Jolie. The eyes are the window to the soul, are they not?

Before Maleficent tries to reverse her own spell, we know she will, because we have witnessed her growing fondness for Aurora. As she grows older, Aurora spends more and more time in the forest with Maleficent. The girl tells her she knows Maleficent is her fairy godmother, for she could always see the fairy's shadow. 

As Maleficent tells the sleeping Aurora in apology, “I was so lost in hatred and revenge. You stole what little was left of my heart and now I have lost you forever.”

What is true love?

Although “Maleficent” is based on “La Belle au bois dormant” by Charles Perrault and “Little Briar Rose” by The Brothers Grimm, and Disney's own telling of the sleeping beauty, it presents a more organic definition of true love — the love between a mother and her child.

Wait, you say. Maleficent is not Aurora's mother. True — biologically speaking. Maleficent fed the girl as an infant, watched over her once, preventing the 5-year-old from falling off a cliff to her death. The three pixies, though they turned themselves into human form, were too busy quarreling amoungst each other to notice what the growing child needed. This version of the Sleeping Beauty story broadens the definition of true love and motherhood.

Linda Woolverton's script weaves the magical and the physical worlds together brilliantly; although this film is a bit dark, and might not be suitable for children under the age of seven. The film is a perfect vehicle for Jolie. Her “Maleficent” is magnificent. Spellbinding. Bewitchingly villainous and touchingly heroic. Beautiful and beguiling. I loved her in this role.

The animation and visual effects are stunning. The cinematography by Dean Semler is breathtaking from the scenes of Maleficent in flight to the life and death scenes, shot so close you're there.

The creatures in the forest (particularly the tree guardians) are “costumed” with great attention to detail. The bark-like skin and fingers of the tree guardians and their movements fascinatinate and the animated fairies and sprites and associated scenes are Disneycolor cool.

Lana Del Rey's version of "Once Upon A Dream" is a tad on the dark side, not traditional Disney, but perfect for this film.

Makeup, costumes, musical score: It's all here and adds up to a delightful departure from reality into the lands where fantasy and dreams dwell.

“Maleficent” is rated PG. The Harbor Theatre is screening a sneak peek of the film (its national release date is May 30) tonight, Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. Other dates and times: Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, Monday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. with one 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, June 1.

For more information, call the theatre at 207-633-0438.