Part Grimm fairy tale and part Fritz Lang epic, "Blancanieves" is an homage of the highest order. Although the film loosely draws parallels to "Snow White," "Blancanieves" is far from a children's tale.
Mirroring the style of a European silent film, the movie draws a majority of its inspiration from the likes of Buñuel, Hitchcock and the aforementioned Lang. However, as blunt or as subtle as these influences may be, you don't have to be a film historian to recognize the innate beauty of the film. It would be easy to pass off "Blancanieves" as just another gimmick in a fairly new trend of retro filmmaking, but the film transcends its silent-era mystique to create a masterpiece unique unto itself.
Director Pablo Berger masterfully weaves together a bold melodrama rife with erotic intrigue and eerie undertones strewn throughout. Blancanieves, aka Carmen, is played expertly by Macarena García, who stands to be a far more well-rounded Snow White than ever imagined before. Her growth from troubled childhood to chivalrous beauty is quite the transformation to behold. Consequently, Encarna, the evil stepmother played by Maribel Verdú (“Y Tu Mamá También"), is so deliciously malevolent and sadomasochistic that all thoughts of previous incarnations are all but swept away.
"Blancanieves" is simply delightful from beginning to end. It's an adult fairy tale; dark and foreboding yet whimsically playful at times. By my estimation, this is the closest adaptation to that of the original Grimm fairy tale. At the same rate, the film is wholly unique and unlike any tall tale you will ever see. The juxtaposition of contemporary themes melded with silent-era aesthetics is a magical wonderment to behold.
Moreover, the film takes liberties with certain elements of "Snow White" to create a refreshingly smart 21st-century perspective. There is no "Prince Charming", which is as it should be. The film is merely too devastatingly surreal to indulge in such trivial, patriarchal structures. Instead, Snow White plays the role of her own hero. Despite her brutal upbringing, Carmen refuses to be relegated to the role of a damsel in distress. In turn, her death is that of a martyr rather than a princess awaiting a prince to wake her.
The Blu-ray release of "Blancanieves" features a making-of piece, an introduction by Berger and a snazzy collectible booklet equipped with musings and stills from the film. All in all, a masterfully directed film with a plethora of special features to choose from when you purchase the Blu-ray, which you should do ASAP.
Film: 5 Yaps Extras: 4 Yaps