Product Description

Studio: Facets Multimedia Release Date: 05/30/2003

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45764 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-08
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Czech
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Customer Reviews

This is the definitive version of Cinderella
The title of this version actually translates as Three Chestnuts for Cinderella, a reference to the three magic chestnuts that bring her three magical gifts, including the dress for the ball where the prince first notices her beauty.

In this version, Cinderella is no singing wallflower. Here, she's played more age-appropriate for the setting -- whereas the Disney version would have you see her as being in perhaps her early twenties, here we see Cinderella as a precocious teenager who hasn't outgrown a tomboyish streak. She is a fireplug, full of guile and wit, who shows that she is quite capable of making a fool of the young prince, who in turn is portrayed as a typical teenager who would rather go hunting with his friends than attend to his lessons or host a ball.

The film stars Libuse Safrankova, who was absolutely lovely as Cinderella. If you are a fan of Czech films, you might remember a more grown up Safrankova in the Jiri Menzel film, My Sweet Little Village, or as Zdenek Sverak's girlfriend in Kolya. She is a fine actress, but I think that everyone who is familiar with her role as Cinderella has a special affection for her.

One of the other appealing aspects of this film is the music from Czech tenor Karel Gott. The music borders on the kitschy, but it never goes so far overboard as to leave a bad taste in your mouth.

I highly recommend it.

Charming
I remember watching this on the Kukla, Fran, and Ollie show as a child and have been hoping for its release to video or DVD for many years. The DVD production values are, as stated in other reviews, not the greatest, but I'm just glad to have the movie.

In this version, Cinderella slaves for her stepmother and one stepsister, wonderfully portrayed here. An old friend and fellow servant brings her a small branch with three nuts on it. With the help of an apparently magical owl, she uses the three nuts to disguise herself and meet the prince in a variety of situations, not just the ball. It's great fun to watch her beat him and his friends in an archery game.

Be aware that there is no English language track on the DVD, only the original Czech with English subtitles. They aren't the best, but you can tell what's going on.

Finally one of Czech best fairy tailes.
Tree wishes or "Tri orisky pro Popelku" ( "Three hazelnuts for Cinderella) is one of the best Czech fairy tailes ever made. Even after more then 30 years it doesn't lose any of it's magic. It is one of the movies that you can watch over and over. Many European Tv stations include it as a must in it's Christmas line up.
Libuse safrankova who portraits Cinderella is one of the Finest Czech actors . She had played in other spectacular czech fairy tailes such as "Treti Princ" ( Third Prince)and "Princ a Vecernice" (Prince and EveningStar). She also played in Academy awarded "Kolya" (1996).
This version of Cinderella is by far one of the best I have seen.Even though made during a communist regime it was very well made. Great costumes, incredible sets and actors performances are a strong side of Czech movie making.
Too bad there aren't other films of Czech production more widely available in North America.
Barrandov studios which produced this film is one of the finest in the world and many American producers use their studios while making movies in central Europe.
This story of Cinderella even though has same story line as many other versions made all over the world it includes elements not seen in other versions which made it one of the all time favorite.
It will make a great family favorite for generations to come just as it has for the past 31 years