Those grim forests could be anywhere near you. Europe or United States, it does not really matter for this newest remake of a classical tale, with a series of unexpected twists. "Horror" is the label you will find pinned on it, but do not let this fool you. There is so much more to this story. The fact is that horror sells, think for example that the tickets for the next Michingan Witches Ball, the 24th yearly such reunion, are already on sale for next October. Perhaps Michigan is more attractive to you thanks to the type of entertainment like that offered by bet-michigan, where you can enjoy the thrill of wagering on sports from the comfort of your home. That can give you a good portion of strong emotions, in case that wandering in dark and fearful forests is not your thing. On the other hand, if you would like to meet some powerful witches, at list in a movie, this one is the choice for you.
Let's say you stumbled into "Gretel & Hansel" like the two kids from the tale stumbled into the forest. You are first greeted by a black screen and a voice telling the beginning of a tale. Her voice. If you are into Alice Krige, you will recognise her immediately. But it is less likely, the South African beauty is a star, but not really a superstar. A beauty? Yes, she is. Today, at 65, in a different way than when she played the mysterious Eva Galli / Alma Mobley in "Ghost story" in 1981. Or the Borg Queen in Star Trek in 1996. Krige's beauty today is the beauty of a crone, and those who are into witchy things will get the point immediately. The perfect choice to play opposite "the teenager on the brink of stardom", as The Guardian dubbed Sophia Lillis, the Gretel in this little grim jewel that you can already enjoy on Amazon or iTunes. Unless you want to wait for the DVD and Blu-ray release on May 5th.
The Enchanteress and the Beautiful Child in her little pink cap are the first two witches you will meet. The young heroin enters after four minutes, and you get the first glitch, a voice over from her that could have been left out. Critics have been dissatisfied with this and the somewhat slow pace of the story. You will survive these defects, and be richly rewarded by the genial aesthetics of the whole movie. An initiation journey is mostly what it is all about, and it is a very female story, better said, a story about female power that takes you for a walk on the thin ice of the dark aspects of that same power.
Had you paid attention (no one of us does at first), the same title should have put you on the alert. Gretel comes first. And it is "Gretel comes first" all the way to the last scene. She is 16 and has to learn about coming into her power, for good and evil. The most fascinating part of the story is her relationship with Holda, the witch, the crone, the mentor. The two women, the virgin and the crone, dance a complicated pas a deux from minute 25'. "Careful with that, dear. I'd hate for you to start something you can't stop". Holda to Gretel, who is trying to lit a fire to come to the rescue of Hansel, who has already been lured into the house. The smile, the voice, the soft tone and sophisticated language of the older woman speak power at every breath. Follow her into the house and into the story, as it unfolds, as Gretel did. Prepare for the unexpected.
Let's say you stumbled into "Gretel & Hansel" like the two kids from the tale stumbled into the forest. You are first greeted by a black screen and a voice telling the beginning of a tale. Her voice. If you are into Alice Krige, you will recognise her immediately. But it is less likely, the South African beauty is a star, but not really a superstar. A beauty? Yes, she is. Today, at 65, in a different way than when she played the mysterious Eva Galli / Alma Mobley in "Ghost story" in 1981. Or the Borg Queen in Star Trek in 1996. Krige's beauty today is the beauty of a crone, and those who are into witchy things will get the point immediately. The perfect choice to play opposite "the teenager on the brink of stardom", as The Guardian dubbed Sophia Lillis, the Gretel in this little grim jewel that you can already enjoy on Amazon or iTunes. Unless you want to wait for the DVD and Blu-ray release on May 5th.
The Enchanteress and the Beautiful Child in her little pink cap are the first two witches you will meet. The young heroin enters after four minutes, and you get the first glitch, a voice over from her that could have been left out. Critics have been dissatisfied with this and the somewhat slow pace of the story. You will survive these defects, and be richly rewarded by the genial aesthetics of the whole movie. An initiation journey is mostly what it is all about, and it is a very female story, better said, a story about female power that takes you for a walk on the thin ice of the dark aspects of that same power.
Had you paid attention (no one of us does at first), the same title should have put you on the alert. Gretel comes first. And it is "Gretel comes first" all the way to the last scene. She is 16 and has to learn about coming into her power, for good and evil. The most fascinating part of the story is her relationship with Holda, the witch, the crone, the mentor. The two women, the virgin and the crone, dance a complicated pas a deux from minute 25'. "Careful with that, dear. I'd hate for you to start something you can't stop". Holda to Gretel, who is trying to lit a fire to come to the rescue of Hansel, who has already been lured into the house. The smile, the voice, the soft tone and sophisticated language of the older woman speak power at every breath. Follow her into the house and into the story, as it unfolds, as Gretel did. Prepare for the unexpected.