Three Wishes for Cinderella
PG

Sun 13 Dec · 14:30

Rarely screened in the UK, this delightful and unconventional reworking of Cinderella is one of the most beloved films in all Central European cinema.

Fantasy • Festive • Magical • Feminist

Part of reRUN

Part of Wintertime

A fairy tale familiar to all, but also not at all what you might expect.

In a small village, Popelku is forced to work as a servant undertaking menial tasks for her stepmother. One day, while out riding in the forest, she comes across a prince and his hunting party.

After impressing the prince with her hunting skills, and learning of a ball at the castle where the prince will choose a wife, Popelku uses some magic hazelnuts as part of her plan to finally let the prince know her true feelings.

More accurately translated as Three Nuts for Cinderella, Václav Vorlíček's adored seasonal classic is a surprisingly modern take, featuring an impressively feisty and independent Popelku and a well-developed character of the Prince, which adds weight and warmth to their romance.

With its beautiful wintry landscapes offsetting the colourful costumes, together with a true earworm of a musical theme tune, this is a funny, revisionist and wonderful reRUN treat.

Details

Original language title

Tři oříšky pro Popelku

Duration

1hr 23mins

Director

Václav Vorlícek

Featuring

Libuše Šafránková • Pavel Trávníček • Carola Braunbock

Year

1973

Country of origin

Czech Republic • Germany

Language

Czech with English subtitles

Strobe lighting

Content guidance

No content warnings identified

“Three Wishes for Cinderella has become a family favourite in several mainland European countries, earning the status of a beloved seasonal classic equivalent of It’s a Wonderful Life in the US. If you are arriving late to the ball like me, you’ll wish it was part of your childhood too.”
Czech Film Review

“It was directed by Václav Vorlícek, something of an expert in Czechoslovakian fantasy cinema... The film keeps that authentic folk tale atmosphere throughout with its sparingly-used special effects and lavish costumes.”
The Spinning Image

Part of reRUN

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