This Italian two-part television series inspired by the Cinderella story raised a fascinating issue of assessing dubbed, English-speaking foreign language films. In watching and listening to the apparently English dialogue from a definitely Italian characters and setting made for a difficult, prejudicial experience. At times, the stunted English dialogue made the viewing experience associated with the cheap old fashioned poorly and cheaply made Chinese martial art films of the 1960s. Overlooking such difficulties, the script and storyline of this Cinderella story was also fascinating in its complexity and depth with three storylines occurring within this movie. There was the traditional Cinderella story that evolved in different ways to involve a ball, a carriage, and Midnight deadline, and even a slipper. There was the piano conservatory theme. There was also a love story relationship among the staff. The photography and cinematography at times were also compelling with some powerful closeups. The European ambiance radiated as sense of romantic fantasy. The director's oversight teetered between stock old American parody and a refreshing avoidance of the typical stereotypical brashness of American simplicity in goodness and badness. This extended Cinderella film offered the audience a greater fullness of plot building on the Cinderella story but at the same time retaining some rough patches, especially towards the end of the film. This mixed bag of scenes and performances would have likely been better served with Italian dialogue with subtitles and a bit more careful, patient direction and script-revision. Instead of a "seven," this film could have been an "eight."
Review of Cenerentola
