Cinderella

Rating: 9/10 (23 July 2018)

Cinderella
It has been a decade since the last time I watched a Disney movie. Of course, the last time I watched one, I was young and naive, and not very perceptive. I loved all Disney movies for no particular reason, just because they were well drawn and colourful and had nice songs.
Now, I decided to rematch Cinderella.
Mainly because I watched a video where people criticize her for being a horrible role model for young girls.
I'm a 21 year old cis-gender white male. I loved Cinderella.
Okay so there's the Stepmother : A mean, 1D horrible person, who's quite frightening and somehow makes you want to be abusive to women. She loathes Cinderella out of consuming jealousy, and wants both her daughters to surpass her in every aspect. Probably because she herself has no confidence.
And then there are Drizella and Anastasia. Two lazy ugly girls who aren't all that ambitious and who are brainwashed by their mother, and pressured to do many things they aren't even good at, such as singing etc.
Then, there's the king. A warm-hearted yet hot tempered, lonely man who griefs his son for growing up too fast and wants to feel alive again with having grandchildren. So he sets up this gala which is basically a speed dating for his son to meet young ladies in hopes of marrying one of them and having children.
And then last but oh so not least, we have Cinderella. She's is a radiant beauty and the kindest human being I have ever seen in a movie. Enslaved by her stepfamily and abused, she's forced to do the chores all day long, and has very little rest. The blame is always on her, and she can't have a moment without her step family calling for her for the most ridiculous things. She was even more abused and humiliated when her cousins ripped her dress apart and to keep her from going to the ball. Naturally, she broke down. Might as well beat her to death.
Yet, she faces her enslavement with joy and positivity. She has so much love to give to everybody around her. All of the animals love her and can't resist her kindness and beauty. She is jailed, but she's happy with it. Instead of fighting it, she accepts it and sees the good in it, and teaches it around her, (teaching the dog to like the cat instead of fighting him, because she knows he will be punished, and that's not worth it for her, she'd rather live and die enslaved and happy.)
She's not free, but she's okay with it. She faces the injustice with love and kindness. Which is so brave, and so inspirational. In my eyes, she's the freest person,because she never gives up hope of being freed one day, and in the meantime she would gladly do the chores and wash the dishes and swipe the floor.
To me, it's not a love story. It has a message of never stop having faith, and accepting the circumstances of your life, not in a passive way but in a mature one, and actually realizing that you can still be happy even with the worst conditions. The love part is only partial and is not exploited at all and I don't mind it. Even though the dancing scene was so romantic it made me drool. They definitely know their way around. She's a victim, but her actions couldn't be as far as those of a victim's . She's honestly a role model for every person who is trapped or lost or abused.
I also found the interactions between the cat and the mice very entertaining and funny, and the ways they always found a solution were clever.
Each one of them has moment to shine, each one of them is important, each one of them has a role.
Needless to say the fairy is only but a metaphor for a silver lining.
I definitely want my children to watch Cinderella.