Reimagining Norwegian classics: blonde and bold

Wednesday 22 December 2021

Norwegian film classics again
Blonde and Bold – Rediscovering Cinderella

The Czech-German fairy tale film “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” from 1973 is cult and has been an integral part of Christmas for many generations. Norway is now daring to remake that classic that very much wants to modernize. Will it be successful?

Millions of people are mesmerized by the movie “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” every year at Christmas time. Now the classic TV fairy tale of 1973 has been re-filmed. Can it run fine? The German-Czech co-production, which came to television nearly 50 years ago, is finally gaining a cult following, especially over the holidays. Generations come together on screen – even in Norway. From above comes the new version of Prime Video. A musician plays the lead role: Astrid Smeplas.

In her film debut, the 25-year-old played the role of a poor girl who becomes a princess. Smeplas also learned horse riding and archery for the role. “It’s been one of my favorite films over the years,” Smallslas said. Cinderella is brave and kind and stands up for what she believes in. “As a kid, she was one of my biggest role models.” Now she shows herself a lot in the figure. In addition to her music shooting “Too much fun”, “I would like to act more”.

Cinderella as a modern woman

The prince, the owl, the horse, the ball, the dove and the lost shoe – everything is there in the remake of “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” based on the fairy tale by Bozhena Neymkova. And yet it was modernized and transformed. The alluringly beautiful Cinderella is now blonde instead of brunette, self-confident rather than shy.

The fairy tale character is in a historical costume like her 1970s counterpart, but behaves like a modern young lady. If she lets her stepmother down in the first place, with each insult grows the courage to defend herself, even against the ridicule of others.

The remake takes place in the expansive, snow-covered winter wonderland, in the original “Tre notter til escapepot”. This is where the beautiful maid, who is being bullied by her stepmother and half-sister, and the son of the sensitive prince meet. The orphan teaches him to understand his horse and saves the fallen one from falling during a wild race. In general: the new Cinderella does not wait until she is found and opposes the stepmother, who is heartless, cold and angry and is reminiscent of the Disney character Cruella de Vil (“101 Dalmatians”) .

“That’s how you see each other again”, the heroine, in a dream dress worthy of an ice queen, breaks the black, curly-haired prince at the ball. He’s about to go out, almost crossing him. Boldly, with one targeted shot, she finally settles the accounts with the stepmother and saves her loved one. More will not be disclosed at this point.

Magical special effects and gorgeous costumes

The original film was shot in 1972/1973 in the Bohemian Forest and Baroque Moritzburg Castle, among other locations, but now the Mhaugen Open-Air Museum in Lillehammer with a medieval moat and historic farmhouse form the backdrop. Actress and director Cecily Mosley (“Furia”) staged the famous story, told in a touching and exciting way by a team of writers.

Special effects, as they were still unknown nearly five decades ago, dazzle gold dust or polar lights on the dance floor for magic, lavish costumes and equipment for awe.

Some characters have different names or contemporary twists. The stepmother’s tailor is gay, the prince’s friends are coming out and Cinderella has to sort the sequins by color – so do the pigeons. The new “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” will immediately inspire a lot of newcomers. However, for many hardcore fans of the original with Libuz Safrancova, it may be too modern. According to user reviews, they also often recall the soundtrack of Karel Svoboda.