Aschenputtel (2010 German-Language)

There are many film adaptations of Cinderella, but most of them are based on the Charles Perrault tale. The Brothers Grimm version is different, and adaptations are rare.

That could be because many perceive the tale as too dark for children. Walt Disney adapted the popular French version because he felt the Brothers Grimm tale was too violent. However, I would not say that, besides the heel cutting, adaptations of the Brotheres Grimm tale are much darker than, say, the live-action Disney adaptation.

A 2010 German-language film from the German company ZDFtivi is one example. While mostly faithful to the original version, the film reduces its gory moments. For instance, since there is only one stepsister (Clotilde), there is only one scene showing a bloody heel. 

Many of the changes in the film involve the increase in dramatic blows. For example, the mother dies after collapsing at a dance party rather than lying in bed. Plus, Marie (this version's Cinderella figure) and Clotilde fight before Marie becomes a servant. There are also several moments of raised tension, such as Clotilde and the stepmother increasingly noticing Marie with Prince Leonard.

Plus, there is an element that calls back to Disney's versions: Marie got locked inside her house not once, but twice. The moment where Marie gets herself out without a man saving her, in addition to planting and relying on a magic tree, serves as an extra moment showcasing her resourcefulness. 

The German-language Aschenputtel may have more tension than the original tale, but not much more depth. While Marie was resourceful, she was not active. Instead of having a clear goal, Marie passively put up with the abuse from her stepfamily. Her relationship with her dead mother is also hardly explored as the only thing they did together was dance. Her mother did not even assure God would watch over Marie as she did in the literary version. She only spoke to her through the dove. 

However, Prince Leonard got a bit of depth. He talked with and about Marie more. Prince Leonard even painted a picture of Marie after the second dance. 

The palace, especially with its white and yellow color combination, is stunning. These colors, which also appeared on other buildings, and the wigs on the castle staff give the film a sense of pure eighteenth-century Europe. The characters may have spoken in German (preventing me from understanding much about them), but I heard France mentioned a few times. 

Another highlight of the film was the score. The classical music playing at the dances sounded as if they came from famous classical composers. 

Overall, the German-language Aschenputtel is a faithful but creative adaptation. The German language will make the story confusing for those unfamiliar with the language and the characters still lack depth, but the visuals, music, and new twists make it a worthwhile watch for fans of the Brothers Grimm tale on YouTube. 

Have you seen and/or want to see the German Aschenputtel?

The King's Daughter

There are plenty of fairy tale movies that do not come from Disney, nor are based on well-known stories. The King's Daughter is a perfect example.

Even though it centers on King Louis XIV "the Sun king," The King's Daughter took inspiration from a novel: The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre. While the film suggests King Louis had a daughter named Marie-Josèphe, there is no information about her real-life counterpart. 

A fairy tale based on both history and literature is unique. How do I know it's a fairy tale? Like many early Disney movies, The King's Daughter opens and closes with a storybook. There are also mermaids in the story, which nods to Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid. Plus, the story centers around the common feature of fairy tales: a royal family (in this case, a king and princess). 

The film opens explaining Marie-Josèphe's love for water and being raised in a convent. Yet, it reveals little about her goals. That makes the film feel more like a sequence of actions than a stitched-together story. It would have felt differently if they focused more on Marie-Josèphe's life in the convent and less on her father ordering the capture of mermaids early on. 

Marie-Josèphe develops a relationship with her father throughout the first act and eventually, as in most fairy tales, falls in love with Benoit (not Napoleon, the husband of the only real-life Marie-Josèphe I can identify). Their fishing area date, especially the set with the Tudor building, was a delight to watch. 

While Marie-Josèphe develops strong relationships with men, she also develops close bonds with other women. She hangs out with servant Magali many times through the film. Marie-Josèphe befriends a mermaid who eventually helps her, too. 

I also enjoyed the Christian references in the film. While Marie-Josèphe gets treatment for an injury, for instance, she says God will help her. King Louis XIV references God many times, too. 

The costumes all seem fit for royalty-Marie-Josèphe's pink outfit stood out among the rest. Her braided wrap-around hairstyle was also memorable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the lighting. As with many live-action films, the lighting sometimes gets too dim. This especially happens in dark scenes with storms and waves. 

The King's Daughter is far from perfect, but those seeking a non-Disney live-action fairy tale will enjoy this. The history may or may not be accurate, but I especially recommend this for French history fans. 

Have you seen The King's Daughter? What do you think about it?