The Silent Heroine: A Walk in Cinderella's (Glass) Shoes
“Have courage and be kind" is the mantra from the latest Disney incarnation of Cinderella, adapted by actor/director Kenneth Branagh. The words are not a far stretch from the universal golden rule, but they have nothing to do with catching a prince, despite the fact that that's where we wind up in the end. Yes, your cheese meter will go off while watching the new live-action version of the 1950’s Disney classic, but the message of the film is undeniably heartwarming all the same. It has been said that Cinderella is a passive heroine, but I feel like the message and moral that can be gleaned from the film is a positive twist for young girls who want to believe that anyone can go from rags to riches.
Lily James gives a beautiful performance and offers a new option for young girls who often find themselves looking to a princess as a role model. True, compared to the Disney princess-warriors of Brave, Mulan and, most recently, Frozen, Cinderella is not a fighter. Her strength lies in her steadfast kindness and her quiet resilience. A lot can be said for standing up for what you believe in. Is violence and aggression the only way to teach our younger generations to stand up for themselves?
Writer Chris Weitz (who directed About a Boy and The Twilight Saga: New Moon) penned some new additions to the story, making it hard to ignore the fact that the Cinderella depicted through the lens and pens of mainstream entertainment has come a long way. Let's take a walk in Cindy's glass slippers for a minute.
15m
4m
20m
1h 2m
18m
2m
20m
44m
20m
1h 43m
1m
1m
1m
20m
2m
56m
1m
1m
1h 39m
2m
2m
20m
20m
22m
1m
51s
2m
1h 38m
46s
41m
21m
1m
55s
2m
6m
5m
2m
5m
9m
9m
1m
3m
3m
1m
1m
1h 45m
2m
2m
1m
24m
44m
45m
20m
21m
1h 21m
23m
1h 34m
1h 27m
1h 20m
1h 16m
45m
41m
21m
4m
20m
41m
10m
2m
1m
59s
1h 22m
21m
44m
1h 36m
23m
48m
22m
1h 3m
1m
46m
24m
21m
1h 23m
20m
22m
1h 15m
57s
20m
22m
9m
21m
20m
21m
20m
21m
1h 17m
57m