Pablo Berger / 2012 / Spain / 104 min
Pablo Berger’s multi-award winning silent film, Blancanieves takes inspiration from the classic fairy tale Snow White, relocating it from the Brothers Grimm’s universe to 1920s Spain. Beginning when the famous Matador Antonio Villalta (Daniel Giménez Cacho) is brutally gored by a bull, the accident sets off a chain of events which lead to his daughter Carmen (Macarena García) living a life of poverty and mistreatment by her wicked stepmother, Encarna (Maribel Verdú). But Carmen’s eventual escape leads to a new life and a new family of seven bullfighting dwarves.
Comical, witty and artfully shot, Blancanieves is an impressive and unforgettable film that takes the viewer on a brand new and exciting version of the well-known story. Berger’s film is fun, heartbreaking, surprising and above all else a complete adventure through time and tragedy, creating a piece that is about loss but most importantly identity. While Blancanieves is named for and takes inspiration from Snow White which the characters in the film elude to, this production differs from the traditional version in many ways, making it more original and much, much darker in places. Spellbinding, adventurous and unique Blancanieves is a powerful film which like all good fairy tales, has a very sobering sting in the tail.
Showing as part of the Glasgow Film Festival 2013
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