Thursday, March 19, 2015

Cinderella: Then and Now

Last Sunday was yet another snowy day here in Marblehead.  Since we've had over 4 feet in the past 6 weeks, what's another 3 inches!  Ashley was home on Spring break and we decided to go to our little hometown theater to see the new version of Cinderella.

The setting was beautiful as was the cinematography.  The characters also fit their respective roles so well.  In this movie, the family dynamics were displayed - a loving mother, father and daughter who truly enjoyed and respected one another.  The father traveled in his work and mother took ill when Ella was but a teen.  When she passed, Ella and her father became even closer, and yet his work took him far and abroad, at times for  many months.

Mother left the message with Ella to "have courage and be kind".  This, Ella never forgot and while she was sad, her spirit was not broken.  As time moved on, Father remarried and while he remained true to his character, his second wife was seeking money and security, wanting to remove all remembrances of the first family.  When Father passed, she became bitter and angry, projecting her anger at Ella, making her become servant and not kin.  Her nickname, Cinderella, came from becoming dirty from cleaning the fireplace ashes.

Upon meeting the prince, Cinderella remained a strong woman, knowing that all beings are meant to be treated with kindness, respect and love.  The prince felt this way as well, but was burdened by the lifestyle of being royal and needing to maintain an image.  (How interesting to see both sides more clearly - it is often easy to feel compassion for the poor, but what about those who must keep up an image and not be true to themselves!)

As the movie continued, messages of courage, fairness and being true to one's heart desires were exemplified.  I felt compelled to watch the original because it was not how I remembered it at all!  The ending was powerful as well - Cinderella suggested that we see the world not as it is, but rather as it could be - seeing the good in all.  She listened to the burden of her stepmother and forgave her.

As we left the movie theater, there was lively discussion about the psychology, the setting, the characters - not unlike any movie or documentary that we view in our family.  We enjoy looking for the layers of messages - the physical world, the emotional context and the spiritual meaning.  We both felt that it was important to watch the original Disney cartoon, and did so that evening.

What a difference between the original and new version.  I refer to this change as "concept evolution."  The original movie began with the evil stepmother imposing upon and imprisoning Cinderella.  Emphasis was on the outer trappings of life - money, status, beauty - with no introspection  of the characters.

How nice to see this "concept evolution" in the modernized version of the movie.  In fact, some of the popular movies of recent years, are revealing the "heart" of the person, showing integrity, compassion and purpose.

Can't wait for the next remake!
In fantasy,
Julie

No comments:

Post a Comment