IN a summer blockbuster marketplace saturated with big name Hollywood stars and explosive special effects, The Thief Lord is going to struggle to steal a slice of the UK box office.

Adapted from Cornelia Funke's prize-winning novel of the same name, Richard Claus' amiable family-oriented adventure relies on a cast of virtually unknown, young actors to carry the action, and places the emphasis on storytelling over pizzazz.

The pacing could certainly be more brisk and the magical centre-piece sequence involving a magical carousel is an anti-climax, but the film's heart is in the right place.

Cinematographer David Slama and production designer Matthias Kammermeier make the most of the gorgeous architecture and labyrinthine alleyways of Venice, conjuring an air of mystery and magic in the ancient city.

However, director Claus can't quite bring all of the various elements together.

When their mother dies, 12-year-old Prosper (Aaron Johnson) and five-year-old Bo Hartlieb (Jasper Harris) are placed in the care of their wicked aunt Esther (Carole Boyd) and uncle Max (Bob Goody).

When they decide that they only wish to adopt the younger of the two boys, consigning poor Prosper to a children's home, the brothers run away to Venice the city of their late mother's dreams.

With no food or money and only their wits to protect them, Prosper and Bo are glad to meet 15-year-old ruffian Scipio (Rollo Weeks) aka The Thief Lord who steals to order to buy food and clothing.

Scipio takes the runaways to his lair, an abandoned cinema, which is also home to three other young orphans and pickpockets: Hornet (Alice Connor), Riccio (George MacKay) and Mosca (Lathaniel CORR Dyer).

Prosper and Bo quickly settle in to their new surroundings, unaware that their aunt and uncle have hired private detective Victor (Jim Carter) to track them down.

When Scipio is hired to steal the final piece of a magical wooden carousel, rumoured to alter the flow of time, Prosper and Bo find themselves on the most exhilarating and enchanting journey of their young lives.

The Thief Lord is an enjoyable if rather pedestrian affair, blessed with strong performances from the young cast, especially Johnson, Harris and Weeks, who are endearing without being too winsome.

Adult characters are painted as caricatures; a cameo from Vanessa Redgrave as a kindly, eccentric nun threatens to unhinge the picture completely.

The big screen is simply too large and sprawling a canvas for such a modest tale; The Thief Lord should play much more happily on DVD.

  • See it at the Lighthouse (not Sun)