Review: SNOW WHITE

A classic story. A new tale. An endearing film. A movie that finds its own fantasy. This is our review of 'SNOW WHITE'.

By Staff

There have always been different versions of movies based on classic tales or novels. Director Pablo Berger tells us his own version of Snow White in a traditional Spaniard way with its most popular "sport".

Antonio Villalta, the bravest and most popular bullfighter of the land suffers and accident during a presentation. While he is fighting for his life, his beautiful wife Carmen de Triana dies while giving birth to a baby girl. The girl carries her mother's name and looks just like her in every conceivable way; so much so that Antonio cannot even look at her for she reminds him of his wife a little too much.

Her grandmother takes care of her during childhood. They lead a peaceful life in a small home. For Carmen's birthday party, all she asks for is a chance to see her father, but unfortunately he doesn't show up and disappoints her.

After a terrible tragedy, Carmen moves in to her father's home but is unable to talk to him or even see him because his new wife, Encarna, forbids her to do so. Now she has to face every challenge head-on to live the life she's always wanted- be with her father and learned the art of bullfighting.

Analysis:

This is a very similar film to Michel Hazanivicius' 'The Artist': silent (mute), monochromatic and with a terrific production.

The narrative is very different to any presented in previous tales of this Brothers Grimm classic. Snow White isn't just a princess nor a vulnerable little girl but a brave and courageous young woman. This and other little changes allow the story to be different and the audience to enjoy and rediscover various aspects of the story.

The interpretations for the main characters were very good, though teenage Snow White, played by Macarena Garcia, left something to be desired.

The cinematography and the editing have slight errors that prevent them to be incredible, especially the first one, which in some scenes (not full sequences) is a bit too grainy and the details in the art direction get somewhat lost in the background.

All in all this is a very good film and certainly some of the best to come out of Spain in quite some time. We recommend you give this film a chance before it disappears from your local art theater.