Review of Blancanieves (2012) by Akash S — 10 Sep 2014

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.