akash_sebastian
A classic fable told in a refreshing way with the crisp touch of black-and-white. This Spanish silent film is the best version of Snow White I've seen till date; it really is 'The Fairest of them all'. The cinematography, the acting, and the music, all supervised by its expert director, Pablo Berger, will make the movie everlasting; it's a treat for cinema-lovers. It takes one into this intoxicatingly enchanting era of Spain, with royal houses, bullfighting, flamenco, et cetera, and keeps you there long after the movie has ended. The movie proves that simplicity with a dab of artistic innovation can create wonders.All the actors involved in the movie, especially Maribel Verdu, Macarena García and Daniel Giménez Cacho, have done an incredible job. They hold your attention with their mastery over a wide range of emotions. Maribel Verdu, from 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' and 'Pan's Labyrinth', is such a delight to watch; she thrills you with her rendition of the Evil Stepmother.Berger proves that, to tell an interesting story through the medium of movie doesn't necessarily require wide range of colours or even dialogues. With proper story, impeccable acting, and an entrancing background score, one can do wonders.'The Artist' won a lot of acclaim and awards to bring back black & white silent style cinema, but Blancanieves' conception and production dates much back. If 'The Artist' wasn't out first, being shown at Cannes (its roller-coaster ride of fame began there) and hadn't taken away all the spotlight for being the first post-modern B&W silent film, 'Blancanieves' might have received the respect and acclaim it deserved, because, in my opinion, both these movies are absolute masterpieces.Anyway, cinephiles shouldn't miss out on this. It's a spectacular and enchanting tribute to Silent-era Films.
zetes
The best film I've seen in a long while. A modern silent film, it's a true visual masterpiece. Words definitely would have just gotten in the way. Based on the Snow White fairy tale (though it's at its best when it's not following that story closely), the film follows a young girl, Carmen, after her mother dies in childbirth and her father (Daniel Gimenez Cacho) is made a paraplegic in a bullfight. As a child (played by the lovely Sofia Oria), she lives with her grandmother. When she dies, though, Carmen goes to live with her father and his new wife (Maribel Verdu, one of the most photogenic people on Earth). Of course, her stepmother is wicked. Her wheelchair-bound father is restricted to his bedroom. She's forbidden to see her father, but eventually she sneaks up to his room, where he teachers her the art of bullfighting. When Carmen grows up (now played by Macarena Garcia), her stepmother tries to dispatch her. She's saved by six bullfighting dwarfs, who, teaming up with the girl in their shows, bill themselves as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (the tale is known to them). This film isn't much about the story, although it is actually quite involving. The images are astounding. It's the kind of film where you could take any frame and hang it on your wall. The three main actresses are stunning. Verdu in particular - man, can that woman wear some clothes! The actresses playing Carmen both have these amazing eyes. I was swept along and absolutely amazed.
Thanos Karagioras
Pablo Berger make a really good job directing this movie and I believe that it's a movie that will like to everybody. He took the Snow White fairy tale and linked it with the Spanish culture and the Spanish traditions such as bullfights and bullfighters."Blancanieves" is a movie which in many moments of it makes you mixed feelings for everything that happens. From one side we have Carmen (Macarena García) who is the daughter of Antonio Villalta and from the other side we have Antonio Villalta (Daniel Giménez Cacho) who is an old ruined bullfighter with his wife and stepmother of Carmen, Encarna (Maribel Verdú).Some points are the same as in fairy tale with dwarfs who save the life of Snow White but all of these are influenced by Spanish culture, that is something that makes this movie special and unique.
intelearts
Blancanieve (Snow White) is in every sense one of the best films of 2012. Coming directly in the footsteps of Oscar winner The Artist, this is another film that proves that Silent Film is not a derogatory term but rather leaves us to bring more not less of ourselves to what is a stunning film.Where Blacanieve triumphs is in its storytelling, its acting, and yes, its melodrama, which here works and makes us feel like we are really watching a Spanish film from the birth of Spanish cinema - the casting of the extras, and the attention to detail just adds to this sensation - and it really is a good watch from beginning to end.I used to watch films all the time, now I find most are so generic, uninspiring, and just plain dull, that I have almost lost the desire - but then you see a film like this and it restores your faith - a simply excellent film about love, passion, jealousy, and sadness.
AD
