Cinderella in Disney Studios

by Caryl Nugara

I n 1677, the French writer Charles Perrault created a fairytale titled Cinderella. Children are yet fascinated with this story that has a happy ending.

Cinderella's fairy god-mother conjured up a pumpkin with liveried coachmen in a golden carriage driven by horses so that she could attend the prince's party dressed in an extravagant, bouffant ball gown.

Today Walt Disney Studios have made 'Cinderella,' a 'jewel in their treasure store' of movies, a version of this highly imaginative story. It unfolded Perrault's images of a heroine who could escape her step-mother (Cate Blanchette) and step-sisters by marrying an ingenious prince living in a fantastic castle.

The movie directed by Kenneth Branagh and his screen-writers deal with today's gender politic in a graceful and refined manner marked by etiquette and dignity enabling Cinderella to escape her anguish by eventually marrying the prince.

Branagh's team was successful in presenting a new interpretation of the fairytale which stars Lily James as Cinderella.

The story is replete with emotions that families experience - jealousy, oppression and pain of mind. As in the narrative, Lily is put into a servile situation when her step-family treats her as a servant. They even name her Cinderella because she awakes with soot on her face sleeping by the hearth full of cinders. They all dislike Cinderella and feel superior. However, Cinderella falls in love with a charming prince, named Kit played by Richard Madden. She doesn't even know who he really is, neither does she seek her dream of escaping from her wicked step-family.

Cinderella's deceased mother Ella (played Hayley Maxwell) was forgiving and influenced Cinderella to be kind and forbearing.

The Prince also had lost his father. Therefore, he shared a deep bond with Cinderella in regard to missing parents.

The glass slipper on Cinderella's foot was a central pattern of events which proved to the prince that the lovely, unknown girl who disappeared from his view down the palace balustrade was really meant to be his bride.

Lily James (the main actress) says she had to wear a brilliant slipper in accordance with the story.

Firstly, the costume designer with the expertise of Swarovsky fashioned a high-heeled crystal slipper only as a prop for the film. It was delicate and breakable. So a leather shoe with a coating of 221 light-reflecting 'Aurora Bovealis' crystal facets were digitally placed on the actress's foot for Cinderella's midnight escape.

She leaves her brilliant shoe behind, the prince picks it up, places it on a gold-braided velvet cushion and sends it throughout the land in search of its pretty owner. And it fitted well on Cinderella's foot.

The fairy god-mother (played by Helen Bonhome Carter) deserved the applause for acting her part so artfully deceptive as once again Cinderella turns into that delightful girl who stole the heart of the prince at the ball.

This film shown in Canada was an entire spectacle of magic. It also focussed on the influences of goodness, making a fairytale believable.