Review of Blancanieves (2012) by Tony D — 09 Jun 2013

In Blancanieves, director Pablo Berger translates Snow White's fairy tale of a girls' wicked stepmother, outcast friends, and strange destiny to 1920s Andalusia. This gorgeously-shot silent film tells it's story through iconic black-and-white images of the bullfighting ring and rolling Andalusian countryside, deliciously expressive figures of narcissism and greed, interspersed with more intimate, even occasionally hand-held footage of dancing, laughter, and familial love.

But Berger's film arguably derives most of drive and energy from its flamenco score--in fact, Blancanieves is above all a flamenco Snow White, in sensibility, tone, and ballad-like structure.