"Have Courage and Be Kind!"

"Where there is kindness there is goodness and where there is goodness there is magic!" And this film is filled with goodness and magic. 

Christmas week is a time to focus on all things good and kind, bright and beautiful. I've been wanting to watch Cinderella again for a long time - not the animated version or the weird 2021 abomination. (I've only seen the trailer and that was more than enough!) No, I'm talking about the absolutely breathtaking and beautiful 2015 Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh who proved himself as more than an actor.

There is so much to celebrate in this movie: the lovely portrayal of family life and the respect and love for two fathers. Think of it! We live in a time when men are ridiculed and fatherhood is under attack and yet we see the love and respect of two young adults for their fathers. Manhood is portrayed as honorable. Being a gentleman is noble.

There's plenty of evil in the story of Cingerella as well, both in Cinderella's home and in the palace. Here's a scene cut from the movie that depicts the evil of the king's prime minister who ends up conspiring with Cingerella's stepmother. I wish they had left it in.

Kenneth Branagh showed himself a brilliant director with this film. The scenes with the fairy godmother are magical and hilarious. To watch the creatures change gradually, for example the tiny mice transformed to full grown horses, is brilliant. the entire movie is one worth watching over and over. 

But to me, the pièce de résistance comes near the end of the movie when Cinderella turns to her evil stepmother as she leaves her home with the prince and says, "I forgive you." She has shown courage; she has shown kindness; she has shown love; and she shows forgiveness.

Do yourself a favor, watch the movie. 

One last beautiful scene and a reminder. If you want your children to be smart, tell them fairy tales. If you want them to be brilliant, tell them more fairy tales. (Albert Einstein)