Maleficent

A closer look at the story

Maleficent tells the untold story behind the best-known villain of Sleeping Beauty. A fairy with a pure heart, Maleficent grows up in the Moors, an enchanted and peaceful forest realm that borders the kingdom of humans. While still a girl, she falls in love with a human named Stefan. When invaders march in and put the calm of her land at risk, she rises to become its most determined defender. In the end, though, Stefan betrays her without mercy, and the betrayal slowly hardens her heart. Consumed by the desire for revenge, Maleficent clashes with the ruler who succeeds the invading king and lays a curse on his newborn daughter, Aurora. Yet as the girl grows up, Maleficent comes to see that Aurora may be what brings peace to the kingdom, and perhaps to her own happiness too. Robert Stromberg directed this 97-minute fantasy adventure from 2014, written by Linda Woolverton. Angelina Jolie plays Maleficent, Elle Fanning plays Aurora and Sharlto Copley plays Stefan, with Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville in the cast.