Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture

New life for Cinderella

byCNS
27 March 2015
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA

Family viewing: Lily James and Richard Madden star in a scene from the movie Cinderella. Photo: CNS/Disney Enterprises

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CINDERELLA: Starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Rated G (Very mild themes) 113 minutes 

By Joseph McAleer

CINDERELLA injects vibrant new life into a venerable fairytale.

The result is an exuberant live-action retelling of the oft-filmed fable, the most famous screen version of which is Disney’s classic 1950 animated feature.

Opting for fidelity and sincerity rather than a revisionist approach, director Kenneth Branagh sticks to the basic story, displaying genuine affection for its iconic characters.

Familiar yet fresh, his delightful take, suitable for the entire family, nicely brings to the forefront dual lessons about compassion and forgiveness.

There’s a lot of death in the Cinderella story, but here that aspect of the tale is treated gently.

Ella (Lily James) tends to her dying mother (Hayley Atwell), whose final request to her is, “Always have courage and be kind.”

This becomes Ella’s life motto – and not a bad one at that.

Her sunny nature and good will inspire all creatures, great (fellow humans) and small (white mice).

Related Stories

Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

Secret baptisms show how Christians still persecuted worldwide

Pope Francis asks for prayers after 50 migrants found dead in Texas trailer truck

When her beloved father (Ben Chaplin) remarries, Ella’s patience is put to the test, but she never gives in to the dark side.

The same, alas, cannot be said for Ella’s new stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), or her shrieking stepsisters Drizella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger).

The ladies are ghastly in every respect, from their poor manners to their garish outfits.

And anyone who calls her cat Lucifer, as Lady Tremaine does, is just about bound to be wicked.

The standard narrative unfolds: Father dies, and Ella is reduced to waiting on her obnoxious relations in the manner of a servant.

Covered in ashes from cleaning the fireplace, she’s derisively dubbed “Cinderella”.

Riding her horse through the forest one day, Cinderella encounters Kit (Richard Madden), aka Prince Charming.

They meet, cute but confused, she unaware of his royal status, he not catching her name.

Cinderella retreats, and the prince, his heart aflame, vows to find the enchanting maiden.

A royal ball is arranged, with an invitation to all eligible ladies in the kingdom, titled or not.

Lady Tremaine forbids Cinderella to attend, tearing her dress to pieces.

Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), naturally, has other ideas.

The transformation of pumpkin, mice, lizards and a goose into a golden coach, white horses, footmen and driver, respectively, is one of the highlights of the film.

The other standout is Cinderella’s shimmering blue dress.

Not since Scarlett O’Hara made an outfit from old curtains in “Gone with the Wind” has a skirt stolen the show to such an extent, swishing and swirling across the dance floor as though possessing a mind of its own.

While there are a few twists in store, a happy ending is assured, and the final message won’t leave a dry eye in the house.

Joseph McAleer is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.

Family viewing: Lily James and Richard Madden star in a scene from the movie Cinderella. Photo: CNS/Disney Enterprises
Family viewing: Lily James and Richard Madden star in a scene from the movie Cinderella. Photo: CNS/Disney Enterprises
ShareTweet
Previous Post

Chisholm community says ‘No’ to bullying

Next Post

Kids hit hard by divorce

CNS

Related Posts

Performer: Liza is a trained gymnast and contortionist and has enjoyed performing at St Eugene College.
Education

Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

29 June 2022
Secret baptisms show how Christians still persecuted worldwide
World

Secret baptisms show how Christians still persecuted worldwide

29 June 2022
Tragedy: Debra Ponce, left, and Angelita Olvera of San Antonio mourn near the scene where dozens of immigrants were found dead inside a trailer truck a day earlier on June 28. Photo: CNS
World

Pope Francis asks for prayers after 50 migrants found dead in Texas trailer truck

29 June 2022
Next Post

Kids hit hard by divorce

Irish descendants remember their family heritage

The hill of crosses – a mountain of faith

Popular News

  • Performer: Liza is a trained gymnast and contortionist and has enjoyed performing at St Eugene College.

    Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abdallah family deliver powerful Vatican speech

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christianity still top, but numbers decline amidst a secular shift

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pope Francis asks for prayers after 50 migrants found dead in Texas trailer truck

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Federal and state parliamentarians encourage pro-life Queenslanders at March for Life rally

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Performer: Liza is a trained gymnast and contortionist and has enjoyed performing at St Eugene College.
Education

Young Ukrainian performer settles into new life in Brisbane school

by Hannah Kennelly
29 June 2022
0

LIZA fled the war in Ukraine with her mother and nothing but a single bag. The St...

Secret baptisms show how Christians still persecuted worldwide

Secret baptisms show how Christians still persecuted worldwide

29 June 2022
Tragedy: Debra Ponce, left, and Angelita Olvera of San Antonio mourn near the scene where dozens of immigrants were found dead inside a trailer truck a day earlier on June 28. Photo: CNS

Pope Francis asks for prayers after 50 migrants found dead in Texas trailer truck

29 June 2022
Mary Mother of Mercy Church

Christianity still top, but numbers decline amidst a secular shift

28 June 2022
Q&A – Who is the little-known patron saint of the Swiss Guard?

Q&A – Who is the little-known patron saint of the Swiss Guard?

27 June 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping