Ever After

My Favorite Movie

by Madi Vilela

A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live?

Then I shall have to make you wings.

Ever AfterA Cinderella Story

E v ver After: A Cinderella Story is a 1998 film in-spired by the fairy tale Cin-derella, directed by Andy

Tennant and starring Drew Barry-more, Anjelica Huston and Dougray Scott. The screenplay is written by Tennant, Susannah Grant, and Rick Parks. The original music score is com-posed by George Fenton. The film’s closing theme song “Put Your Arms Around Me” is performed by the rock band Texas. The usual pantomime and comic ele-ments are removed and the story is in-stead treated as historical fiction. It is often seen as a modern, post-feminism interpretation of the Cinderella myth.

The Story The movie begins with the Grimm Brothers visiting an elderly woman, the Grande Dame of France, who while thoroughly enjoying their stories questions their story of the little cinder girl. The Grimm Brothers reply that there was no way for them to verify the authenticity of their story as there were so many different versions. After one of the brothers expressed curiosity about a portrait showing a young woman, the Grande Dame replies that the woman was Danielle de Barbarac (Drew Barrymore) and proceeds to tell her story. The Baroness and her daughters are summoned to visit the royal court, as-suming that Henry plans to propose to Marguerite based on a lie Jacqueline tells them. Instead, they are told that they are guilty of treason for lying to the Queen about Danielle’s identity

and martial status among other things-an offense punishable by death. Upon hearing this, Margurite tries to cover up her part in her mother’s schemes by pinning the whole blame on Rodmilla, leading to a argument between them that is soon stopped by the King. It’s then that Jacqueline reveals her decep-tion to her mother and sister. The Queen then strips the Baroness and Marguerite of their titles and tells them that they will be deported to the colonies, unless someone asks for mer-cy on their behalf. When no one speaks up for her, Rodmilla realizes just how alone she truly is. Danielle, whom Henry introduces as his wife, steps for-ward to ask the King and Queen to be as kind to her stepmother and stepsis-ter as they were to her. Rodmilla and Marguerite are sent to work in the royal laundry for the rest of their days. Jacqueline, who had always been kind to Danielle, is spared punishment. She falls in love with Captain Laurent, whom she met at the ball. As the story ends, the elderly lady reveals to the Brothers Grimm that she is Danielle’s great-great-granddaughter, and still has her glass slipper and Da Vinci’s portrait, leaving the Brothers Grimm with the real lesson of the fairy tale - not merely that they lived happily ever after, but that they really did live and the story is true.

The CastDanielle de Barbarac, portrayed by Drew BarrymoreBaroness Rodmilla de Ghent, por-trayed by Anjelica HustonPrince Henry, portrayed by Dougray Scott

Marguerite de Ghent, portrayed by Megan DoddsJacqueline de Ghent, portrayed by Melanie LynskeyGrand Dame, portrayed by Jeanne MoreauLeonardo da Vinci, portrayed by Pat-rick GodfreyMaurice, portrayed by Walter Spar-rowLouise, portrayed by Matyelok GibbsPaulette, portrayed by Kate LansburyGustave, portrayed by Lee InglebyKing Francis and Queen Marie of France, portrayed by Timothy West and Judy Parfitt respectivelyPierre Le Pieu, portrayed by Richard O’BrienAuguste de Barbarac, portrayed by Jeroen Krabbé

ProductionEver After was filmed in Super 35 mm film format, but both the widescreen and pan-and-scan versions are includ-ed on the same DVD. This is also the only Super 35 mm film ever directed by Andy Tennant. The Tennant-direct-ed films before this were filmed with spherical lenses. The ones after it were filmed with anamorphic lenses.The castle shown in the film is the Château de Hautefort. Filming also occurred in Dordogne, France at the Château de Fénélon and the Château de Losse.The painting of Danielle seen in the film is based on Leonardo’s Female Head (La Scapigliata).