Not really. It was purely fiction rather than any kind of documentary, although not trained the actors were not playing themselves, there was some kind of script, and I’m fairly certain the director gave the boys direction of some kind, although probably not the same kind he would have given to professional adult actors. It’s just that he didn’t want “actorly” kids. I don’t know, but suspect, that he had to film a lot of material to winnow down to what he ended up using.
Most of what I read about this movie was a long time ago, but the movie did make an impact on my psyche, a fairly intense one for a while, so I remember some of this stuff. I hope accurately.
I reckon pure fiction is typically where a character (Huckleberry Finn) “escapes” from another piece of fiction (Tom Sawyer) and not only breaks the fourth wall (in a book?) but tells us about the prior author getting it “mostly right” (is that purer?) and sails down a real river with a fictional yet representative escaped slave?
One chapter of that fiction could have Huck and Jim encounter some kids, where one says, “Let’s choose roles! I want to be chief!” and a rival regiment of choir boys. And some fat smartass know-it-all who really kinda knows it all?
“Nice meetin’ ya, we’re going to 'The Big Easy!”
Then there’s the play about a former Duke of Milan who happens to be a superb, yet vengeful, sorcerer. Usurped and just waiting to serve revenge cold, which he does by conjuring a storm to bring those who’ve wronged him to wreck on an island. Wait, weren’t the Pilgrims sorcerers? No? This one still might be plausible.
Is this a fairy play? Yep, yet not pure fantasy. Oh, well, it’s as much fantasy as Tolkien. There’s a unknown pronoun Fairy (Ariel) and goblins in the shape of hounds. Yet this one has a creature (?) (Caliban) who represents the English Language this bard has created (not entirely him, but a lot).
Then the sorcerer does an epilogue that even Twain never attempted. Breaking the fourth wall (you can’t do that!) and all but saying, “You may not know me, what you’ve not read any play with a Henry in it. Now I was paying service to the house of Tudor, yet I got it mostly right. Also, I’m outta here. And you better applaud!”
It’s four full-hour episodes that “stand alone” in a sort of way, unlike “Andor” where if you had the next, you’re not going to bed just yet, even if you know how it turns out (ISTR they were released in three’s)
Meanwhile, David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is still the Office Manager in Slough, wondering when the BBC will make the third six-episode series (ETA: With Christmas eps. seven)