Learning English through Drama

You are a reporter for the entertainment section of the Young Post. You have been asked to review a new film called Cinderella which is based on the comic series Princesses of Power.

• Write a review of the film

• Include a brief description of the plot, how the characters are portrayed in this new version of Cinderella and why the director wanted to make this film

• Give your review a title

Super Cinderella

The new animated film Cinderella, released in 2019, is adapted from the all-time classic fairy tale. It tells a modern tale of Cinderella, an ordinary girl in her twenties, who tries to save lives at the critical moment of the city where she lives in. Born with superpower, the young Cinderella is reminded by her deceased mother not to use her power until when the right time comes because her superpower can only be used once and will disappear at midnight. 

Living with her stepmother and two stepsisters who treat her cruelly, the young Cinderella endures the hardship and refuses to use her magical power to save herself. As Cinderella is growing up, a dark superpower is looming large on the horizon and threatening the citizens of the city. Seeing that the city is full of violence, injustice and riot, the grown-up Cinderella realizes that it is the right time to use her power to save her fellow citizens. Cinderella stops all sorts of crimes committed by the dark armies and destroys all the black magic played by the dark lord. 

The royal family member Prince Henry finally challenges the dark lord to a fight. When the dark lord comes very close to stabbing Prince Henry, Cinderella comes to the rescue, stabs the dark lord and saves Prince Henry.  At this time, the clock strikes midnight and Cinderella loses her power instantly. Cinderella runs away leaving her shoe behind. The following day Prince Henry searches everywhere in the city who can fit in the shoe. Cinderella tries the shoe on and reveals that she is the one who saves him. Then Prince Henry asks Cinderella to marry him and they live happily ever after in the city. 

It is thrilling to see that the new Cinderella, directed by the female director Sara Kwok, turns the original fairy tale upside down by portraying Cinderella as a superwoman. “By modern adaptation of the classic and re-imagination of the female protagonist, I would like to give a feminist touch to the story that modern women, represented by Cinderella, is just as strong and able as men instead of being stereotyped as weak victims waiting to be saved. I would like to give such an impression to the little girls who come to the cinema to watch this film.” Sara explained her motive of making the film.

Apparently, it might seem that the ending does not surprise us when it follows the same way as the original one that marriage is the final happiness of a woman. However, as the story suggests, the happy ending somehow demonstrates that modern women can seek her own happiness, be it marriage or not, but here in the form of marriage, by her own power. 

Cinderella is a great choice if you look out for something unconventional that stimulates your children into thinking about gender role and female empowerment. However, despite its creativity, it might not be as lovable as the all-time favourite classic that both boys and girls would find.