EVER AFTER

US, 1998, 116 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy West, Judy Parfitt.
Directed by Andy Tennant.

Ever After is billed as a Cinderella story. The French Queen (Jeanne Moreau) tells the Brothers Grimm the true story of the fairytale. It is set in the 16th century with Danielle (Drew Barrymore) suddenly orphaned and left in the care (?) of her ambitious and self-pitying stepmother (an eccentrically comic performance from Anjelica Huston).

Little expense has been spared to make the film look attractive: beautiful French locations, lavish costumes, swordfights and masked balls. Well, maybe Drew Barrymore is a touch modern in what she says and does and bringing in Leonardo Da Vinci to do the work of the fairy godmother seems to be stretching it somewhat. However, the audience enjoyed it immensely and helped me to suspend disbelief and enter the world of imagination - and social comment. A new angle on Cinderella.

1. The popularity of the Cinderella story? A critical and historical representation of the fairy story, renewing audience interest in it?

2. Audience knowledge and appreciation of the well-known story? The film showing the Brothers Grimm giving a grim version? Their visit to the queen, the discussion about Cinderella, her showing them the glass shoe? The queen narrating the story?

3. The title, once upon a time and happily ever after? But a fairy tale as historical?

4. The castle, the baron, his return, his love for his daughter, bringing her the copy of Utopia? Danielle and her age, playing with her friend, the tomboy? Her stepmother's arrival, her daughters? Her stepmother's disdain? The baron, his farewell, his collapse and death?

5. The story of the prince, a moody young man, his relationship with the king and queen, not wanting to be king, the arranged Spanish marriage? His taking the horse, Danielle stoning him? The confrontation, his being charmed by her? Maurice and his imprisonment, Danielle dressing up in order to plead his freedom, caught by the prince, giving her mother's name? Her giving him lectures? Their meetings, talk, falling in love, exchanging views, her egalitarian approach and his disbelief? The visit to the library, her swimming? The meeting with Leonardo da Vinci? His meeting his soul mate? His father and the compromise about his marriage? The preparations for the war?

6. Anjelica Huston as the stepmother, more quiet, innate nastiness, treating Danielle as a slave, insulting her? Marguerite and her being spoilt and pampered? Jacqueline being ignored and being attacked for her eating so much? The meeting with the prince, her selling her husband's goods to Danielle's suitor? Her contact with the spy and her seductive manner? Her plans for Marguerite, Marguerite meeting the prince, giving the keepsake back to the queen? Trying on Danielle's mother's dress?

7. The servants, their loyalty to Danielle, Maurice and his freedom? At work in the fields, in the house? Meeting Henry, her going out, her coming back late and her stepmother banning Danielle from going to the ball?

8. Leonardo da Vinci, his achievements, painting, the Mona Lisa, his experiments with flight? His painting Danielle? His advice to the prince? Coming to help Danielle to go to the ball, his being the equivalent of the fairy godmother, talking sense to Henry, his presence at the marriage?

9. Henry, his not letting Danielle tell him the truth, Danielle going to the ball, the stepmother and her lies and talk about the engagement, her denouncing her stepdaughter? The prince's anger? Marguerite and her wanting to marry the prince and take Danielle's place? Jacqueline and her support of Danielle?

10. The prince's anger, the wedding ceremony, the tantrum of the Spanish princess, the king and queen observing, the calling off of the marriage?

11. Henry, his denunciation of Danielle, his coming to ask her pardon, calling her by name, asking her to be his wife?

12. The call to the stepmother and her daughter to come to court, Marguerite and her humiliation, the stepmother and having to tell the truth, Danielle condemning her, not to go to the Americas but to be a servant? She and Marguerite with the washing, going into the vat of dye? Jacqueline and her suitor, her being happy ever after?

13. Danielle's suitor, his buying all the goods from the stepmother, wanting to sell them back for Danielle? His taking her home, the confrontation?

14. The theme of happy ever after, the historical telling of Cinderella story - keeping the moral of the story?