What new dimension will Disney’s new live-action Cinderella bring to the classic story?
[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou know the tale of Cinderella: an orphaned girl, Ella, is abused by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. But with the help of her fairy godmother and a pair of shoes even Christian Louboutin would drool over, Ella meets the Prince of the Kingdom and they live happily ever after.
But Disney’s newest live-action film promises to bring a totally new emphasis to the timeless fairytale that we thought we were already familiar with.
Old Tale, New Tricks
First of all, it’s directed by the acclaimed Kenneth Branagh, who has helmed movies from Shakespearean classic Much Ado About Nothing (1993) to Marvel blockbuster Thor (2011).
Perhaps inspired by his work on Thor, this time Branagh wants to push kindness as a superpower.
I think expecting a superhero to suddenly start waxing Old English is a bit of a stretch. It seems we’re going to have to look elsewhere for movie magic: within the characters themselves.
Beyond the Classic Cartoon
This live-action version of Cinderella is going to give us a lot more than the cartoon did – and not just real people with real expressions.
Almost like never-before-seen footage, we’ll be treated to scenes of Ella with her mother and father, whom we never got to meet in the original 1950 animation. These scenes reveal how Ella becomes defined by courage and kindness.
Scriptwriter Chris Weitz said, “I thought it was important that the audience see her (Ella’s mother), and experience not only Ella’s loss of her but what she gained from her.”
And Branagh introduces an interesting dynamic between Ella and her stepmother. Producer David Barron explains, “Cinderella’s journey mirrors that of the Stepmother, in that both endure loss and heartbreak but it’s the choices they make which differentiates them. She could easily have become bitter and angry like her Stepmother… but she chooses goodness.”
Wish Upon a Star
Cinderella sports an impressive line-up of actors, from Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett (as the stepmother) to BAFTA Award-winner Helena Bonham Carter.
You may be surprised to learn this: Bonham Carter appears decked out in blond hair and a blinding white frock as the benevolent Fairy Godmother!
Bonham Carter is known for her madcap roles as Harry Potter villain Bellatrix Lestrange, the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).
Yet here she appears as a kind and loving sprite, waving and flicking her wand (yet not to cast a death curse). This alone is an amusing transformation that I can’t wait to see.
By Pamela Chow
Cinderella [PG]
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård & Helena Bonham Carter
Genre: Fantasy, Family
Run length: 113 min
Release: Mar 12
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