Can you remember the last time you truly believed in magic? For some of us, it has been a long time since we let our minds wander into the world of possibilities. But if you just take a moment, separate yourself from the world around you, and take a look at what life has given you and the memories you possess, you may find that you are in your very own fairytale. The world is a much more beautiful, giving place than we usually give it credit for. What Cinderella showed me, and what I often forget in my everyday life, is how we must, with every fiber of our being, hold onto the magic we have experienced even in the seemingly insignificant moments.
The theme from the movie was that one must always have courage and be kind. At first glance, this short message may not seem all that significant. However, upon closer inspection, I came to find that even this corny, cliche moral has a lot of power. The character of Cinderella fully embodied this as a way of life, having in every action an optimism that seems impossible to muster given her situation. We all know the story of Cinderella, a kind soul whose mother died as a child and father passed away after remarrying a cruel women with two atrocious daughters who treat Cinderella as a servant instead of an equal. However, throughout the film, Cinderella showed a strength in her that you don’t come across on a daily basis. A strength to look past her situation and still see what is good in the world, and instead of lashing out at the world that had been so cruel to her, to try and make it better with every chance she got.
One of my favorite parts of this new adaptation was how they developed Cinderella’s character alongside that of the Prince’s character. Instead of Cinderella being a helpless girl who was whisked off her feet by Prince Charming, she actually had the gusto to stand up to the prince and speak her mind, meeting him as an equal instead of a lesser character. Even after the ball, when Cinderella was not sure she would ever meet her prince again, the movie emphasized her strength ad ability to accept life for what it is. She would have gone on happily enjoying her sweet memories and the small things in life with or without the prince coming along.
Besides the beautiful character development in the movie, there was also an astounding level of artistry in the cinematography, music, costume design, and set design. Everything that ended up on screen was nothing short of breath-taking. Every color seemed more saturated and more vibrant than I had ever seen it. Of course, Cinderella’s ball gown stole the show with how it swept across the floor when her and the prince danced, or with how it resembled rippling water when she ran from the castle. Cinderella’s house was divine, with every quaint aspect of a country home that anyone could ever imagine, as well as a regality in the interior that seemed almost out of place. There were also certain compositional elements of the film that really caught the attention of the viewer. It was clear that a lot of thought was put into how each frame could bring out the emotions in the scene as well as the magic in the story. And the music was the icing on the cake. In my opinion, a movie is nothing without a good soundtrack, and I was not disappointed. The music, by Patrick Doyle, was interwoven into every scene to reach into the audience’s heart and pull tears out of your eyes. You found yourself longing to set Cinderella free from her life of toil, desirous of being at the ballroom with so many magnificent people, or wishing for even one moment in the presence of the prince and his father to experience their love firsthand. You know you have stumbled across a really good movie when you consciously notice the absence of any music and how it leaves you hanging in anticipation, just waiting for what will come next.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this movie. I had no expectations going in, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself feeling alive and full of joy when leaving the theatre. Seeing such a wonderful story as this will make you see the beauty in the world and have you believing in magic again.
