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Fairyland

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Fairyland R 2025 1h 56m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Produced by Oscar® winner Sofia Coppola (Writing, Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation, 2003) and based on the acclaimed memoir of the same name by Alysia Abbott, Fairyland is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of San Francisco's vibrant cultural scene in the 1970s and '80s. This captivating film chronicles a father and daughter relationship as it evolves through an era of bohemian decadence to the sober and heartbreaking era of the AIDS crisis.

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Fairyland

Fairyland

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Critics Consensus

Drawing on one family's real-life experiences, the powerfully acted Fairyland pays poignant tribute to love and resilience in the face of adversity and tragedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times 3d
4/5
And so this fond, wise, lived-in film chronicles a spectrum of parentification – with the parties switching roles – over turbulent decades. Its emotional force is found in the two-step between parent and child as the sweep of LGBTQ+ history catches up. Go to Full Review
Leslie Felperin Guardian 5d
3/5
If the shape of the tragedy is visible from some distance off, writer-director Andrew Durham limns the outlines gracefully with only a discreet soupçon of sentimentality. Go to Full Review
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Oct 17
3/4
The performances from McNairy, Nessa Dougherty as a young Alysia and Emilia Jones as a teen/adult Alysia capture her aches and longing. Go to Full Review
Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 2d
4/5
Opening in 1974, the film is beautifully shot in period style, which allows writer-director Andrew Durham to seamlessly splice in archival footage. Go to Full Review
Dulcie Pearce The Sun (UK) 2d
4/5
This well-acted and honest film shows the heart-wrenching loss of joy and talent that Aids took from the world. Go to Full Review
Hilary A White Irish Independent 2d
3.5/5
Andrew Durham’s adaptation of the bestselling Alysia Abbott memoir is a fine debut for the writer-director, one that mines ache and beauty within this most novel inflection of the father-daughter dynamic. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen T Oct 23 this true to life story actually makes you feel like you're back in the 70s and 80s in San Francisco. the casting convincingly tells a heartbreaking story through the eyes of a daughter growing up with a single gay dad. now i want to read the book. See more jesse v Oct 22 A good documentary of the gay upbringing culture in classic San Francisco. some scenes were well shot and the actors performances were great. though time really sped through after the first act, even having the daughters side story completely dropped. ending was somber. See more JoAnne Oct 16 Loved it! Fantastic cast and moving story. See more TY Oct 13 Heartbreakingly beautiful! See more Lynne Oct 5 It was a wonderful heartfelt movie. Highly recommend See more MB C @MB.Cinema Feb 26 Told from Alicia’s perspective, the film traces their evolving relationship through childhood, rebellion, and her father’s illness....Rather than relying on plot twists, it builds emotional depth through memory, identity, and quiet family conflict....The portrayal of an imperfect but loving father adds nuance, especially against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis.....However, its slow pacing and repetitive emotional beats soften the dramatic impact.....A tender, introspective story about forgiveness and reinterpreting the past with maturity..... See more Read all reviews
Fairyland

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Movie Info

Synopsis Produced by Oscar® winner Sofia Coppola (Writing, Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation, 2003) and based on the acclaimed memoir of the same name by Alysia Abbott, Fairyland is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of San Francisco's vibrant cultural scene in the 1970s and '80s. This captivating film chronicles a father and daughter relationship as it evolves through an era of bohemian decadence to the sober and heartbreaking era of the AIDS crisis.
Director
Andrew Durham
Producer
Andrew Durham, Sofia Coppola, Megan Carlson, Laure Sudreau, Siena Oberman, Greg Lauritano
Screenwriter
Andrew Durham
Distributor
Lionsgate / WILLA
Production Co
Lost Gang Films West, Black Magic, American Zoetrope, Artemis, Ouroboros Entertainment, Safe Space Pictures
Rating
R (Drug Use)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 3, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 4, 2025
Runtime
1h 56m