Princes who have been turned into Dwarfs seek the red shoes of a lady in order to break the spell, although it will not be easy. A parody with a twist.
At the beginning of this film, I was totally confused. Having a plethora of fairytale books and movies under my belt, I have come to rely on the tradition of classics that have stayed with me, enabling me to relive the sanctity of stories that every generation can appreciate. Fast-forward to 2020, and the mixture of Snow White, the seven dwarfs, the wicked witch, and a bit of “The Wizard of Oz,” provides a new respect for combining the treasured bits and pieces with new twists and turns, to make them fresh, amusing and unpredictable.
As the film opens, a wicked stepmother realizes that the red shoes which gave her beauty and power no longer give her what she expects of them. She has turned into an old hag and would give anything to have her beauty and power restored. Her stepdaughter, Snow, who has been watching from afar, finds an opportunity to steal the shoes, and her life changes forever under the power of the red shoes, which turn her into a beautiful princess. At the same time, a wicked spell has been cast amongst the dwarfs and the only way to break the spell is to get a kiss from the princess.
When Snow begins a journey to get answers to her father’s disappearance, she also becomes burdened with the task of validating herself with everyone she comes into contact with. While she isn’t used to the great treatment that has come with the wearing of the red shoes, she does appreciate the feeling she gets from it. When she and the dwarfs decide to collaborate on their missions to break their spells, she changes her name to Red Shoes and they become entangled in a turf war with the tree monsters which are operating under the wicked stepmother’s direction. While all the dwarfs are competing with one another for Snow’s attention, Merlin seems to be the closest by appealing to her senses and being sympathetic towards her insecurities. When they finally solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance and get the opportunity to get rid of the wicked stepmother, it is almost too late for Merlin, who has become her strongest ally, as he gets in the way too deep and almost loses his all in exchange for his need to get a kiss from the princess.
This animated tale directed by Sung-ho Hong, Moo-Hyun Jang, and Young Sik Uhm, gives new life to the traditional fairytale format and also gives purpose to those who don’t see themselves as enough in a world that focuses on outward appearances. As youth and adults alike struggle for acceptance, this fairytale makeover is a powerful tool in advocating self-love and self-acceptance.
Now available on Digital, On-Demand, Blu-ray™, and DVD
