The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drizella into the family home. But, when Ella’s father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family.
Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella since she used to work in the cinders, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.”
She will not give in to despair nor despise those who abuse her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears as if her.
Cinderella is an American live action romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh, from a screenplay written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz. Produced by David Barron, Simon Kinberg and Allison Shearmur for Walt Disney Pictures, the story is inspired by the fairy tale Cinderella by Charles Perrault and the 1950 animated film of the same name.
The film stars Lily James as Ella, with Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine (The Wicked Stepmother), Richard Madden as Kit, Sophie McShera as Drisella, Holliday Grainger as Anastasia and Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother. The film is scheduled to be released on March 13, 2015.
About the Story
The story follows the fortunes of young Ella, whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drisella into the family home. But when Ella’s father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, Ella is spitefully renamed Cinderella since she used to work in the cinders.
Despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words to “have courage and be kind” and to not give in to despair or despise those who abuse her. Unaware that the dashing stranger she meets in the woods is a prince and not merely an employee at the palace, Ella feels she has finally met a kindred soul. When the palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, Ella hopes to attend and once again encounter the charming “Kit”. However, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand as a kindly beggar woman steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.
The story largely follows Disney’s 1950 animated adaptation, with several twists. In the 2015 version, Cinderella and the Prince meet prior to the fateful ball. At the time, he tells her he’s simply a palace employee. The Fairy Godmother is a larger character than in previous versions, as the character in the 2015 version is initially disguised as an old beggar who watches over Cinderella before ultimately revealing herself as a magical being.
Cinderella
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Hayley Atwell, Stellan Skarsgard, Richard Madden, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Eloise Webb
Screenplay by: Aline Brosh McKenna, Chris Weitz
Cinematography by: Haris Zambarloukos
Film Editing by: Martin Walsh
Production Design by: Dante Ferretti
Costume Design by: Sandy Powell
Set Decoration by: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Music by: Patrick Doyle
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements.
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: March 13, 2015
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