An almost completely satisfying remake of the time-old classic.
Regan Humphrey
Danielle (Drew Barrymore), the unloved stepchild of Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent (Anjelica Huston), is content to spend her days taking care of her late father’s estate and counting the seconds until her cunning step-family moves out and onto a life as luxurious and cruel as they like to be. She has no intention of forming a relationship with Henry (Dougray Scott), a spoiled, soon-to-be married Crown Prince of France. Falling in love with him is further complicated by the fact that she’s kept her identity, as a peasant, secret from him.
REF SCORE: 12%
Soundtrack: 10%
Story: 40%
Writing: 50%
Diversity: 40%
Daring: 0%
Racism: PRESENT — 50%
Gender Bias: ABSENT — 0%
Homophobia: ABSENT — 0%
SUMMARY
If ignoring that this film is set in France and no is or speaks French, as well as the fact the ethnic diversity of 16th century France was multifarious (which this film does not depict), as well as the fact that “gypsy”—a racial slur used to homogenize, demonize, and erase the existence and vibrancy of Romani people—is widely and blindly used, this film is as satisfying as a remake of Cinderella can be, offering a bit more substance than its peers in the 20th century adaptions of the classic tale.
ref score 