In the following essay we will focus on the analysis of the content (mainly the ideas communicated directly or indirectly to the viewers) as well as of the form (including such elements of cinematic language as camera tracking, editing, lighting and soundtrack (Barsam & Monahan, 2010) of a well-known fairytale. Snow White and the Huntsman directed by Rupert Sanders was released in 2012 by the Universal Pictures (Sanders, 2012). Due to the involvement of such stars like Kristen Stewart (main character) and Charlize Therone (Queen Ravenna) and because of some scandal rumors around the relations between the former and the director, there was a great interest to the movie around the globe.
The plot of the film is the re-interpretation of the old German fairytale of Grimm brothers about the Snow White and her confrontation with a bad queen. Thus, the key idea of the original about the struggle between good and evil is present in the movie however, in this particular screen version we see significantly changed accents. First of all, the way the how characters, both positive and negative, are developing through the narrative, second of all, we will demonstrate the “democratization” of heroes and bleeders, and, finally, some hidden, but perfectly illustrated, critique of modern consumer values would be revealed as well.
The film starts with the marriage of King to the unknown beautiful woman named Ravena, who was rescued during the battle. On their wedding night she revealed her true face of being evil, beauty-obsessed and power-seeking old woman, she kills the King and all his supporters, seized the power in his kingdom and established a cruel and a deathly rule while imprisoning the Snow White (King’s daughter). Only few escaped (including Snow White’s friend William – son of a noble lord) and hid in a castle across the Dark Forest. Years passed after years, the kingdom fell into decay as Queen was murdering all beautiful girls and women (by sucking out their vital forces) and even the nature was breaking down too. One day Snow White managed to escape from the tower and fled to the Dark Forest (strange hallucinogenic place of no return). The Queen sent the Huntsman (drunken man, disappointed with life whose beloved wife died) to seek the girl promising to return to life his wife. Instead of killing the Snow White he takes her side, teaches her how to fight and rescues her to the castle of the lord. During their evasion they find friends (William who wanted to rescue the girl too, seven gnomes), they see miracles happening due to the healing power of the Snow White on nature, and they fall in love with each other. However, the Snow White was poisoned by a Queen’s apple, so she seems to be dead while the Queen almost attains her goal of eternal beauty in a case the girl dies. William kisses the Snow White and nothing happens, unlike the effect of the Huntsman’s farewell kiss that broke the spell. The …