Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Cinderella (2015) Adoption Movie Guide
Ella’s childhood is charmed. She lives happily with her
mother and father. They teach her to be kind, have courage, and believe in
magic. Tragedy strikes, and keeps striking, when Ella’s mother dies
unexpectedly from an illness. Ella’s father spends the next several years sad.
Then, he becomes remarried to Lady Tremaine, Ella’s new stepmother. The
stepmother’s two daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, do not take a liking to
Ella. Shortly after the marriage, Ella’s father also dies while away on
business, leaving Ella in the care of (or rather, at the mercy of) her
stepmother and two stepsisters. They make her do menial work and exclude her
from the rest of the family. They rename her “Cinder-ella” because of how dirty
she gets while doing the work. Cinderella runs away into the woods, where she
finds a handsome young man. She leaves without giving her name, so he sets up
an elaborate ball to try to find her. With kindness, courage, and a little
magic, things will probably work out for Cinderella.
OK, I mean, spoiler alert, but I’m thinking you probably
already know the story.
This film is paired with a charming Frozen short film, where
Elsa attempts to throw a surprise birthday party for Anna. It’s lighthearted
and fun, and most young kids in the audience will like it.
How Does This Connect
to Adoption?
Ella experiences the loss of both parents, and is raised by
a family who is not related to her – and the new family gives her a new name.
The issue of identity is also brushed on. Lady Tremaine
attempts to forbid Ella from something on the authority of being “her mother.”
Ella replies, “You are not, and never will be, my mother.”
After her mother’s death, Ella clings to one of her mother’s
dresses, because it helps Ella feel a little like her mother is still there.
Strong Points
Ella is able to say goodbye to her mother. She is able to
give her consent to her father’s remarriage.
While Ella’s life does get very
hard, these are two positive things.
Ella remains kind and courageous, even when life is hard.
Ella has a very positive relationship with her father. Her
life is impacted for good by her mother’s influence on her, even after her
mother dies.
Challenges
Ella’s mother dramatically falls ill on camera. Ella is able
to mourn her mother’s impending passing, holding tightly to her mother. Her
mother tells her, “I must go very soon, my love. Please forgive me.” Ella
tearfully says, “Of course I forgive you,” and then the family tearfully
embraces on her deathbed. While, for Ella, this might be a helpful aid in the
grieving process, it might very, very sad for young children in the audience,
or for viewers who have lost a parent to death.
Some viewers might find the subsequent death of Ella’s
father also very sad.
*Spoiler alert but not really* Ella falls in love with the
Prince. His father is also dying. In fact, the only parental figure in the
whole film who doesn’t die is Ella’s stepmother.
Weak Points
I’m not sure if it is helpful to people touched by adoption
when the plot of a film can be summed up by the statement, “Your new family is
evil and hates you.”
Ella’s stepmother hides away all of the mementos of her
birthmother.
Viewers who have been abused might be triggered by the way
that Ella’s family mistreats her, even referring to her by a new, insulting
name, which is somewhat reminiscent of the treatment of Dave Pelzer in his
memoir, “A Child Called It.” The family bars Ella from pleasurable activities
and does not allow her to eat in their presence. Her stepmother requires Ella
to call her “madam.” The stepmother also rips apart a dress that Ella inherited
from her mother. The stepmother also tells Ella, “You’re a ragged servant girl.
That’s all you’ll ever be.” It’s brutal.
Recommendations
I watched this one with my wife and two kids who are like nieces to us, a nine-year-old and a five-year-old. The nine-year-old’s review: “I liked it but not the sad parts.” The five-year-old: “I liked the part when she was a baby.” I agree with my young friends. There are happy moments, positive messages, and a happy ending, but there’s a lot of stuff that’s sad. Both of the kids I watched it with cried during the film, and I can imagine it being hard for young kids, and especially for viewers who have experienced mistreatment by adults in charge of them. It might be best-suited to ages 10 and up, and even then, parents should be there when their kids see it, and process it afterwards. This might also be a good one for parents to screen first.
Questions for
Discussion
If you had a fairy godmother, what would you ask her to do
for you?
Is it worth showing kindness, even when people are unkind to
you?
What elements of Ella’s treatment by her stepmother are
realistic? Which are unrealistic?
The film suggests that “the greatest risk is to be seen as
we truly are.” What do you think about that?
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