Review of Cinderella at the Wellesley
Preserved Cinema The Wellesley in Wellington hosts Disney's new release, "Cinderella" .
Everybody loves the intimacy of the theatre and everybody loves a good fairy story. This week the two are entwined.
One of Wellington's best loved venues, the local cinema, is a link with the past. It has 1930's decor and a family atmosphere. Grandparents take grandchildren there to relive the past.
It was perfectly matched this week with Kenneth Brannagh's new production of "Cinderella." Given five stars by the Guardian newspaper, the film is a masterpiece and true to the original story.
Animation and human peformance are seamlessly woven together so that we are transported into a fairyland and a magical experience. We truly do suspend disbelief and immerse ourselves in a totally cinematic experience.
Unlike the animated version previously made by Disney, Kenneth Brannagh has adhered to the true nature of fairy stories. The feminists criticised Cinderella for teaching little girls to only desire a husband and no other pursuits.
This completely undermines the true nature of a fairy story. Fairy stories are deeply psychological and speak to a child's unconscious mind. Rather than getting married being the goal, "Cinderella" is a coming of age story which is the discovery of the male and female side to the psyche and integrating the whole personality at a time around puberty. It is about finding the nature of the true self and maturity in finding that illusive perfect sexual partner.
In this version of the story, a happy childhood is included making Cinderella a rounded personality able to deal with misfortune and embrace the main message of the film which is " courage and kindness." An admirable lesson with which to guide our children.
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