SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

UK, 2012, 127 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane?, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Rachael Stirling, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Brian Gleeson.
Directed by Rupert Sanders.

This tale does begin with ‘Once upon a time…’ then takes us back into a medieval village and castle and the story of Snow White, her evil stepmother, Prince William and a huntsman.

No expense has been spared in this production. Settings are quite spectacular, from the formidable castle and its vast interiors, the wave-crashing sea and the beach expanses, a deadly forest and the beauty of a fairyland. The director, Rupert Sanders, has had a career in commercials so knows how to make the most of a sequence of only a few seconds as well as keep the narrative moving – which serves the momentum of this tale very well. Some scenes, like a lavish crowd coronation scene, last for a very short time and we are on to the next.

This film takes the fairy tale very seriously – not a light satire like Mirror, Mirror, with Julia Roberts. Charlize Theron obviously relishes her role as the hugely egocentric queen who quickly gets rid of her husband, wages war on the people and imprisons the child, Snow White. She has a most elaborate wardrobe as she walks the castle, using her younger brother as her sinister executor of her will and her drive to power and to eternal youth (often sucking the life out of young woman, at other times bathing in milk).

When Snow White escapes from the castle, she sends her brother in pursuit and employs a grieving widower, a woodsman, to hunt down the princess. This leads them into a deadly forest, an encounter with a giant troll, finding a village of women where the men have all gone to fight – and to an encounter with eight dwarves.

Kristen Stewart is Snow White, not unlike her Bella in the Twilight films. Chris Hemsworth is a sturdy huntsman, something like a down-to-earth Thor. And a lot of veteran British actors have been altered by computergraphics to be the dwarves – Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane? amongst others.
There are lots of battle sequences, especially a climactic confrontation and an attack on the castle where Snow White turns into something like a Joan of Arc. And, of course, the confrontation with the queen.

Costumes are lavish. The musical score aspires to the epic. And, all in all, it works pretty well as an action entertainment.


1. The popularity of the story? From the Brothers Grimm? The appeal to the imagination? The film tradition, the Disney version, later versions?

2. The epic treatment, the mediaeval city, castle, the battles, the court? The evil forest? The battle sequences? The musical score, rousing? The final song?

3. Beginning with once upon a time and finishing with the restoration of order and the happy ever after?

4. The film targeting an adult audience, younger audiences? The Brothers Grimm and their dark vision? This film as dark?

5. The kingdom, the king and his rule, the queen, giving birth to her child, the blood drops, on the snow? Giving her daughter the name of Snow White? The queen’s death? The king going into battle, the phantom army and its destruction? His defeat? Ravenna in the coach, seemingly a victim, the king taking pity on her?

6. Ravenna, poor, the trick on the king, the infatuation, the bedroom and her killing the king, her attitude towards Snow White, imprisoning her? The lavish coronation? Her reliance on her brother?

7. The years passing? Snow White imprisoned in the tower? Ravenna and her vanity, the mirror on the wall, the gold flowing out, the images of Ravenna? Her ageing? Her taking the young girls, drawing the life from them? Finn under her command? Her mother, creating the spell with the blood? Snow White as the only person who could break the spell?

8. Snow White, in prison, talking with Greta, Greta’s return to her cell? Snow White finding the nail, attacking Finn with the nail, her escape? Through the courtyard, through the passage into the sea, on the rocks? The pursuit, the birds – and her healing them? Their leading her, the white horse, riding into the forest? The horse immersed in the mire?

9. The queen and her ordering Finn to get Snow White, his going to the village, the story of the huntsman, his fighting in battle, the death of his wife, his drinking, the reaction of the townspeople? Finn taking him to the queen, the mission to find Snow White? His knowledge of the forest, going to the forest? Finn and the violence? The huntsman changing, asking questions of Snow White, not knowing who she was? Rescuing her?

10. The huntsman and Snow White and their journey, through the forest, the snakes, the giant troll, Snow White calming the troll? The huntsman training Snow White to defend herself with the knife?

11. Coming across the village, only the women and children? His learning who Snow White was? Snow White, the women, the children, the bonding? The huntsman leaving? Finn and his cohorts, setting the village alight? Rounding up the women? The huntsman seeing the fire, his return, the rescue?

12. The journey into the Land of the Fairies, meeting the dwarves, the characters, their appearances, their work, their love for the king, recognising Snow White?

13. The dwarves, their helping Snow White? Gus, fighting for her, his death? The leadership of the dwarves, their good-heartedness? Their following the lead of the huntsman?

14. William, as a boy playing with Snow White, his escape with his father? His father, the refuge for those oppressed by Ravenna? His decision to join Finn’s group, using this as a means to find Snow White, the discovery?

15. The queen, disguising herself as William, attempting to kill Snow White? The huntsman saving Snow White? The queen’s return to the castle, her ugliness, the blackness?

16. The armies, the duke and his castle, the forces gathering? Snow White and her becoming a warrior, in armour, on the horse, leading the troops? Riding along the beach? The siege of the castle? The details of the siege, the boiling oil, the fireballs? The arrows? The dwarves and their getting in via the sewer, the attempt to open the gate, the seeming failure, their success?

17. The battle in the courtyard, Snow White and her going to confront the queen? The queen wanting to kill Snow White? Her own death, fading, ageing?

18. The coronation, the huntsman looking up the aisle? Order restored? The future? A happy ending?