Cinderella
By Erin
We’ve heard it all before. Once Upon a Time: there was a girl, with a fairy godmother, a pumpkin that turns into a carriage to take her to meet her prince at the royal ball. A glass slipper, then poof, a dream that comes true. We all know this is describing the age-old classic Cinderella, Walt Disney’s beloved animated film, that we have all watched as kids, sung to, maybe even danced to and dreamed to since its first debut back in 1950. Now, it’s making its return to the big screen more gorgeous than ever before in an all-new live-action film!
When Cinderella’s beloved mother dies, she tells her,”Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.” Ella takes these words to heart, as well as her mother’s wish to her for her to always “have courage and be kind.” Ella embraces these words, and treats everyone with kindness, and stays in her home situation, even when so many would probably leave after being treated so poorly.
As her father remarried, the young Ella (Lily James), welcomes with open arms her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and two new step sisters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into her family’s home. Right from the start, her new family treats her like a bit of an outcast. After her fathers passing on a business trip, they really turn on poor Ella, and treat her more like a servant than a daughter or sister. Through it all though, she refuses to lose hope and is more determined than ever to honor her mother’s words of kindness and compassion.
Cinderella’s Stepmom and Stepsisters.
On one particularly bad day, she runs off with her horse into the forest to get away from it all and to escape for a short while. Little did she know, this ride would change her life forever. By chance she meets a most handsome stranger in the woods who says his name is “Kit” (Richard Madden) and that he’s an apprentice at the castle. In reality though, we all know he’s the prince. 😉 This is one of the most powerful, magical, and heartfelt scenes in the entire movie. You can just feel the instant connection between the two, as their horses dance and prance around one another during their chance meeting.
