Cate Blanchett stars in this new live-action vision of the Cinderella tale from director Kenneth Branagh and the screenwriting team of Chris Weitz and Aline Brosh McKenna for Disney Pictures.
After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things. The American romantic fantasy film is a refreshing take on a classic tale.
With an excellent cast and an elegant sense of style, it makes for a magical and quite charming version of the story that all ages can enjoy. – Examiner.com
In the title role, Lily James is a revelation: sweet without being sugary, simple without being simple-minded and beaming with what must be the most radiant smile in movie history. – Sacramento News & Review
Starring Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie.
Note: Three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell said she was aiming for the look of “a nineteenth-century period film made in the 1940s or 1950s.” According to Ly Velez of Moviepilot, “In the past, Powell’s creations, such as those seen in Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Young Victoria, normally carried a heavy emphasis on historical accuracy. However, her work on Cinderella, although minimally influenced by nineteenth century wardrobe, allowed her to explore a more fantastical side of her creativity.”