Aschenbroedel

[scottishlass]

If you ask any girl/woman between the ages of four and fifty in both West and former Eastern Germany and Czech Republic which fairy tale movie has influenced them the most, you will come across one particular title again and again and again. 3 Haselnuesse fuer Aschenbroedel (3 gifts for Cinderella).

It's the one movie that so reminds me of a typically German childhood, watching that movie during Christmas time. Nothing, and I mean literally nothing, comes close to this wonderful DEFA/Studio Barandov rendition of the fairy tale, not Disney not anything. Even the soundtrack has become somewhat of a household name in Germany. Just hearing the first two, three notes of the soundtrack by Karel Svoboda and a girl/woman will know where it's from.

What's so great about this movie is that Cinderella is not passive. She rides on horseback, she is a skilled archer, she can hold her own against the prince. If there ever was an ideal role model for young girls - this Cinderella certainly would be.

Comments

[janajanc.livejournal.com]

OMG, this is absolutely true (I'm from the Czech Republic, haha :) I'm so happy German girls/women love this movie as much as all the people in my country. There wouldn't be any Christmas without "Tři oříšky pro Popelku" :))

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I love Czech children's movies and series from the 1970. There were a lot of them with Libuse Safrankova as well as some other East German actors, oh and not to forget Pan Tau!!! :)

[back2real.livejournal.com]

awww, sounds really sweet, but it's almost impossible to come by in this part of the world! at least we're getting "Once Upon a Time" now, giving us a kick-ass Snow White.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

The movie was available in the UK IIRC, either with subtitles or dubbed. It is old (from 1973) but it has so much charme and timelessness, every year for the last what 35 years I watch it on TV during Christmas time. It's an institution.
A lot of girl's and young women even marry in the ball gown and cape Cinderella is wearing, it is a beautiful gown and the cape is to die for in its simplicity.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I loved that movie so much too. It was very popular in Russia

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yup .. Russia, Czech Republic, Germany ... it was even popular in Sweden and such. It is truly one part is really European as it touches so many of us Euros and influences us still.