Cinderella Film Response

While I know for a fact I have seen this Cinderella, I was so young that I have little recollection of the film. The first thing that struck me as peculiar was the somber music played during the opening credits. It just made the film seem old and for a happy-ever-after fairy tale I found it odd that there was such grim music to open the film. Another aspect of the film that that surprised me was how great the animation is for a films created in 1950. I was extremely impressed.

Furthermore, Disney does a phenomenal job portraying the evil step mom. The first glimpse we get of this sad excuse for a human is her ominously staring down at Cinderella, petting her cat like the villain she is. Staring down at Cinderella also demonstrates the power and control she possesses over Cinderella. Our first close-up of the evil step-mother further enhances her evil persona. Cinderella walks into her step-mother’s room and the lighting and color scheme of the room is dark. The step-mother emerges from a shadow with an unrelenting stern facial expression. She has the deep set eyes that has become commonplace among villains and is wearing dark lipstick and eyeliner to further embody her dark personality. Additionally, Disney does an excellent job in creating Lucifer, Cinderella’s step-mother’s cat. Quick side note, never put two and two together that the cat’s name was another name for Satan. Anyways, it is quite evident that Lucifer embodies the wickedness of her owner. Lucifer doesn’t respect Cinderella and it is perceptible through the cat’s evil look and defiant attitude. As the step-mother seeks to crush Cinderella, Lucifer seeks to kill Cinderella’s mice friends.

Another aspect of the film I forgot is how Cinderella possesses a spirit and comparison comparable to that of Ghandi. From the start Cinderella is doing chores, and the chores only pile up. She is never received a please or thank you and is constantly berated and bossed around. When Cinderella finishes an obscene amount of chores and can go to the ball, she is basically assaulted by her step-sisters. The fact that Cinderella never lets her unfortunate situation change her demeanor is a true testament to Cinderella’s character. Cinderella remains perpetually calm and serene throughout everything.

Lastly, I was surprised by the amount of foreshadowing that goes on throughout the film. Targeting an audience of young children, you would think that it isn’t worth the writers’ time to add such elements to the plot, considering children wont pick up on it. In the beginning of the film we get a close up shot of Cinderella putting on her slippers as she gets ready to start her day. Moreover, while bringing her step-siblings and step mother breakfast she loses a slipper. We then get another close up of Cinderella putting on a slipper. From then on out, we get various close ups of Cinderella’s feet. All of this focus on Cinderella’s feet throughout the film foreshadows the glass slipper being left at the ball, and ultimately leading to the Prince and Cinderella’s marriage.