Three Wishes for Cinderella
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Three Wishes for Cinderella
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Three Wishes for Cinderella is a Norwegian fantasy that tells the story of Cinderella. Without the pumpkin carriage, fairy godmother, and a few other notable elements from the original fairy tale, this take on Cinderella reimagines the 1973 Czechoslovakia film of the same title. There's little violence, except for when Cinderella gets locked under some floorboards or when a man gets thrown off a bridge (he isn't hurt, caught by the ankle with a rope, and hoisted back up to the bridge). Also, younger viewers might find the "evil stepmother" character scary. This Cinderella is also depicted as more active than the conventional take, making her an expert archer, lover of nature, and excellent horseback rider. She's still valued and desired because of her beauty. There are a few envious comments about a prince "getting to choose the best-looking woman." Some romantic kissing. Adults in the background of a dinner feast could be drinking alcoholic drinks.
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What's the Story?
In THREE WISHES FOR CINDERELLA, a young woman (Astrid S) lives as a "servant" in her stepmother's house. Unfairly treated, Cinderella loves when she can escape tending to her mean stepmother and stepsister and go out into nature, ride her horse, and practice archery. When out one day, she bumps into the prince (Cengiz Al), who is trying to escape his own problems, which in his case are his royal duties of needing to find a woman to marry. But Cinderella's stepmother wants to stop the prince from falling for Cinderella. Will Cinderella overcome her many challenges and find true love?
Is It Any Good?
This beautifully shot, updated version of Cinderella features a Cinderella who enjoys being outside in nature more than being indoors. This Cinderella, in Three Wishes for Cinderella, is a solid horseback rider and amazing archer, taught by her deceased father. This Cinderella doesn't have a fairy godmother, magical pumpkin carriage, talking mice friends, or a glass slipper. Instead, magical acorns grant wishes, Cinderella rides her own horse to the ball, and her slippers aren't glass (but very sparkly). These changes to Charles Perrault's original folk/fairy tale are welcome, feel fresh (even if the original film version from 1973 did the same), and are almost necessary in order to justify the retelling of an outdated story of a man "getting to choose" any woman he wants. (Who cares what the woman thinks, because why would women need to think? He's a prince! Every woman should immediately want to marry a prince!)
For some viewers, mileage will vary given the above considerations. While this portrayal of Cinderella is a bit progressive, she's still immediately smitten with the prince, and for no clear reason beyond his love of being in nature. When the prospect of the ball comes up, Cinderella's interest in such a thing feels out of character, given what has been shown of her up to that point. Prior to this time, she's shown happily dressing as a young man (with a mustache), being alone and with her horse, and being an advocate for and protector of the forest. So, again, mileage will vary, because for some viewers, this is merely a clean, simple telling of a cute story. For others, however, the tale of Cinderella is one of exclusion, sexism, and abuse. (The story does overtly include and promote grand collective complicity in this "prince chooses the best-looking woman" system (no one has an issue with it) and the reinforcement of the outdated evil stepmother character (which is weird to say given that the original Cinderella story arguably did quite a lot to establish this stereotype in the first place).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about romance in fairy tales. In Three Wishes for Cinderella, were you happy with the romance between the prince and Cinderella? Why or why not?
In this interpretation, Cinderella is an archer, rider, and outdoors person. Meanwhile, the prince remains more conventionally depicted. How might the prince's character be altered for modern, romantic, or emotional benefit?
Beyond the prince also liking nature, why else do you think Cinderella likes him back?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 18, 2022
- Cast: Astrid S, Cengiz Al, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Ingrid Giæver
- Director: Cecilie Mosli
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 22, 2022
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