Disney’s live-action take on the classic fairy tale Cinderella improves upon their 1950 animated version while remaining a faithful adaptation of one of Disney’s most beloved properties. In recent years, most film remakes have been filled with major revisions to the story – although such revisions are not always detrimental (as I observed last year in my review of Maleficent, Disney’s live-action remake of Sleeping Beauty). I was pleasantly surprised at how Kenneth Branagh’s film encapsulates the traditional romanticism and spirit of Disney’s animated classic.
The actors’ performances are excellent, helping to ground this fairy tale in believability. Downton Abbey’s Lily James portrays the title character with both innocence and grace. Cate Blanchett is flawless in her chilling portrayal of Cinderella’s stepmother Lady Tremaine, proving exactly why she has been in so many fantastic roles throughout her career.
Three-time Academy Award winner Sandy Powell’s costume design work in Cinderella is especially eye catching. The petty natures of Cinderella’s stepsisters are clearly communicated through their ridiculous dresses, and Cate Blanchett’s exquisite outfits help to give her a bold, commanding presence as the evil stepmother. Cinderella’s kindness to all creatures is evoked through the clever use of blue butterflies on the gown she wears to the ball. Even though it’s early in 2015, it wouldn’t be surprising if Powell receives recognition for her work on this film once award season starts up again at the end of the year.
While Cinderella does remain faithful to the spirit of its animated predecessor, some of its key additions substantially enhance the story. In the original story, Cinderella did not catch the eye of the prince until she had received a makeover from her fairy godmother and was whisked off to the ball. This magical part of the story still occurs in Branagh’s version, but it is not this “princess” version of Cinderella with which the prince initially falls in love. Rather, the two meet serendipitously in the woods early in the film. At this anonymous meeting, neither of them knows anything about the identity or social status of the other – their attraction to each other is based on other elements entirely. This moment (and others which follow) highlights one of Cinderella’s unique features: the importance of being yourself and not pretending to be someone or something that you’re not. This is a powerful message for youth who who are constantly bombarded with pressure to conform to societal definitions of beauty and identity.
Another notable addition in Cinderella occurs in the first several minutes, in which we get to see Cinderella living an idyllic life with her mother and father before their untimely death. Here Branagh makes a point of highlighting Cinderella’s kindness towards all life, a virtue which is highly praised by her mother. On her deathbed, Cinderella’s mother tells her “a great secret that will see [her] through all the trials life has to offer: Have courage and be kind.” This becomes Cinderella’s mantra and is repeated throughout the film. Even when she is horribly and unjustly mistreated at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters, she continues to show them the utmost kindness regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
There is a significant SPOILER in this next paragraph. – editor
In one of Cinderella’s final scenes, right as Cinderella is about to walk away with the prince and live happily ever after, she pauses to forgive her stepmother. Although this moment had not been included in the animated film, it was a part of Charles Perrault’s original story, and I was glad to see Disney include it once again. It powerfully showcases Cinderella’s kindness through her act of forgiveness, even though her stepmother had no remorse for treating her so horribly.
The SPOILER has ended. – editor
Through most of the film, Cinderella has courage and is kind, but she gets nothing in return except greater mistreatment. She never retaliates, but patiently and gracefully absorbs their insults. It seems counter-intuitive to let someone walk all over you the way that Cinderella does with her stepfamily. Yet 1 Peter 3 has something to say about this to Christians who are experiencing such unjust suffering. He does not say that every Christian is destined to suffer, but for those that do, he offers these words: “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called – that you might inherit a blessing….For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.”
I have not personally experienced intense suffering like Cinderella or the Christians to whom Peter was writing. But if I ever do, I can only hope that my response would look something like Cinderella’s: to have courage and be kind.
You might also find these reviews of Cinderella helpful:
Christianity Today
Decent Films
Larsen on Film
Reel Gospel
Reel World Theology
