Cinderella Complex

By: Cynthia Litman

Pearl of the Film: You Are Enough!

The tears began to roll down my face sitting next to my daughter to watch my favorite fairytale Cinderella on the eve of Mommas Pearls 6^th anniversary.

My parents read me the classic tale as a girl - every - single  - night.  If they missed a word, I called them out and made them start all over again, again and again. I loved it that much.

To me Cinderella was personal.

I understood her journey and struggles and she stayed with me all my life in the form of a massive Cinderella complex. For starters, I first met my prince to be on New Year's Eve and left right after the stroke of midnight (true story).

Cyn and Cin 2013 @DisneyWorld

I coveted my VHS copy of the animated version. I loved my

Gus Gus and the countless re-telling of the Cinderella story since like "Ever After" and "Ella Enchanted". I headed straight to Cinderella's castle at DisneyWorld when I was a child and again as an adult. Next month in Disneyland it will be no different.

Disney's new live action version of Cinderella is beautiful and stays true to the classic animated version's story line and Gus Gus.

(SPOILER ALERT)
In Disney movies parents die. It's a given.
We are devastated then find hope as the characters cope and thrive. Well, here 4 parents die and my daughter commented "we know they die but why did we have to see (2:4) them (actually) die." 

Powerful film moments, yes, but you're killing me Disney and I want to liiiiiivvvvveeee!!

The movie is chock full of pearls being passed from mother (dying) to daughter, father (leaving then dies) to daughter, Father King (dying) to son Prince, girl to boy and stepdaughter to stepmother.

Cate Blanchett as StepMom and the sisters, Image via Disney

After losing her lovingly perfect parents (they really were the most perfect family), Ella clings to her mother's pearls to "have courage and be kind as it has power and magic." 

She's faced with relentless scenarios created by her new step mom (strongly played by Cate Blanchett) and two awful and hapless step sisters who deduce Ella to the household help. 

In despair, Cinderella rides out hard on her horse out into the woods, saves a Stag from being hunted by a young dashing "Kit" who is out with his hunting party.

Their first meeting is deep, connected and plants the seeds for true love to bloom. 

Kit, we learn is the Prince of the kingdom and under great pressure from his ailing father (his mother, the queen is already dead) to be wed and secure the future of the kingdom. For without an heir, you get tossed into a game of thrones. 

The shoe!! Image via Disney

Ahhh, I love peering into the times of monarchs and opulent chandelier lit grand balls at palaces.  A vision of grandeur to be matched by those whose presence was requested. Donned in beautifully large ball gowns with teeny tiny cinched waists courtesy of ridiculous corsets.

We all know of Cinderella's grand feet to get to the ball.

Cinderella's fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) responds to Ella's kindness in kind by majorly pimping out her carriage ride and transforming her outer self from her head to her beautiful glass shoes.  

Stepping out for a moment, it was unnecessary and distracting to disfigure Ella actresses Lily James's body into the tiniest onscreen waist (who said in interviews she couldn't eat while in it).

Be that as it may, Cinderella appeared uber regal as she graced the ball, charmed the King and blew the real (brunette) princess in line for the princes hand straight out of contention.

Beauty at that magical magnitude can only last for so long. Eventually ya gotta wash off your makeup and roll back into soccer mom mode. But I digress.

After the spell is broken, the prince unleashes his hunting party to find the girl of his dreams. Before marriage there's some other business to attend to, like he's a prince and she's a commoner.

Not such a minor detail to royals but like William and Kate, totally optional.

It's when Cinderella appears without any armor or pretense that her inner beauty shines as bright as her magical gown.  She simply proclaims her authentic self and you believe how being true to yourself conquers all.

Now, what to do with that Stepmom.

Post Bippidy Boppidy Boutique, 2013

In one of the film's more powerful moments, as Step Mommy Dearest awaits her fate, Cinderella utters "I forgive you." 

And with the power of forgiveness, I was re-sold into the magic that is Cinderella.

I forgive Disney for not upgrading the modern "princess" story, impossible standards of beauty, letting girl's waists be, love at first sight, the prince will rescue me from my attic dream and the devastating start and happy ending.

After all, it's Disney.

The Disney I remember and loved since childhood. I was grateful to share the experience with my daughter. The Cinderella story holds less of a grip on her than me.

Maybe it skips a generation cuz I still believe in fairy tales.

Did you love, see, loathe Cinderella? Drop your pearls in the comments below.

Mommas Pearls Meter: 3 Pearls

Cinderella, Disney, PG

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

TRAILER: http://movies.disney.com/cinderella/

#Cinderella

Cinderella's Wedding Dress via Glamour Mag

Merchandising Note:

The shopping for this Disney film isn't just for our little princesses (don't fret there's plenty for them).
Cinderella Jimmy Choos
Disney's Princess Wedding Gowns

Related Mommas Pearls Post: Your Cinderella Moment Awaits 

--> © 2015 Cynthia Litman. All Rights Reserved. 

Disclosure: Disney generously provided advance screening passes for my daughter and I and 20 of Mommas Pearls/MomTime Events lucky mommas, otherwise I was not compensated for this post and all opinions and insights are purely my own.