Grimm's fairy tale Snow White is retold in 1920s Spain in a rich mocha black and white homage to the films of the 1920s. Like The Actor, this is a silent film told with a sense of magic.
The story begins in Seville where famous matador Antonio Villalta (Daniel Gimenez Cacho) fights honoring his pregnant wife Carmen de Triana. When he is severely wounded, she goes into labor and ends up dying. The baby is raised by Carmen's mother and paralyzed father eventually marries his nurse (all glorified evil by Maribel Verdu). Sofia Oria, the young actress who plays Carmenchita (Snow White) looks like a young Anne Hathaway. She misses knowing her father, and when her grandmother dies she ends up being brought to his estate where La Madrastra (Verdu) makes her life miserable. Eventually her pet rooster Pepe wanders into the bedroom where her father is and the two develop a rewarding relationship. Her father is eventually murdered by his wife.
Carmencita grows into Carmen, Macarena Garcia, an actress who looks like a dark haired Ellen Degeneres. Surviving her stepmother's attempt on her life, she ends up becoming part of the Seven Matador Dwarfs (although there are really only six). Eventually Carmen's bullfighting skills are shown and La Madrastra makes one final attempt at revenge.
The ending, based on Grimm's, becomes both poignant and powerful.
Surprisingly engrossing and magical, the film pulls you in throughout.
Blancanieves (2012) *****
No comments:
Post a Comment