White as Snow (2019)

White as Snow Poster
Original Title: Blanche comme neige

Claire is a beautiful young woman who works at her late father’s hotel, that is now managed by her evil stepmother Maud. Claire unwittingly sparks uncontrollable jealousy in Maud, whose young lover has fallen in love with Claire. Maud decides to get rid of Claire who finds shelter in a farm where she’s allowed to break free from her strict upbringing through encounters with seven “princes.”

Film Overview
"White as Snow" is a French drama film directed by Anne Fontaine and launched in 2019. The movie stars renowned French starlets Lou de Laâge, Isabelle Huppert, and Charles Berling to name a few. It's a contemporary and hot take on the timeless fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves".

Setting and Plot
In the movie, we follow Claire, a young woman depicted by Lou de Laâge, who works at her father's hotel located in the French countryside. She is both appreciated for her charm and treated with envy by her stepmother Maud, played by Isabelle Huppert. This parallel drawn from the Snow White tale frames the story and sets the stage for the taking place drama.

The plot thickens when Claire's daddy mysteriously dies in a vehicle accident, leaving her alone with Maud, who isn't her biggest fan. The jealousy of Maud ends up being lethal when she grows romantically interested in a boy who appears to have his eyes only for Claire. Driven by bitterness and envy, Maud decides to eliminate Claire, who then embarks on an unusual journey.

Claire's Journey
After making it through an effort on her life, Claire discovers haven in a close-by farm, where she comes across seven men. The males, who serve as the equivalent of the 7 dwarves from the traditional fairy tale, are a diverse group of interesting individuals who offer a stark contrast from her life at the hotel. The guys live just, off the grid, and have a significantly different lifestyle from what Claire is used to. As she gets used to this brand-new environment, Claire has an individual awakening and discovers her strength, resilience, and sexuality. Throughout her improvement, the obvious nods to the timeless fairy tale continue to offer an intriguing lens through which to view the story.

Dynamic Characters
Claire starts as a reasonably ignorant and passive character; however, this modifications substantially following her time with the seven men. Meanwhile, Maud's character takes on the role of the wicked stepmother from the timeless fairy tale with a vicious and envious spirit. Nevertheless, her representation in the film adds a degree of vulnerability and depth to her character. Isabelle Huppert masterfully portrays what might simply have been a two-dimensional bad guy, making her both terrifying and surprisingly considerate.

Conclusion and Themes
"White as Snow" is more than simply a modern-day retelling of a traditional fairy tale. On a deeper level, the movie checks out themes of jealousy, obsession, mother-daughter characteristics, and the journey of womanly self-discovery. As Claire progresses and frees herself throughout the film, her parallel journey can be seen as an allegory for ladies recognizing their worth and their power. With a story that's as engaging as it is thought-provoking, this film uses a fully grown and rejuvenating take on the familiar fairy tale. By the end of the film, viewers are delegated contemplate Claire's improvement and the power of feminine strength in the face of hardship.

Top Cast

  • Isabelle Huppert (small)
    Isabelle Huppert
    Maud
  • Lou de Laâge (small)
    Lou de Laâge
    Claire
  • Vincent Macaigne (small)
    Vincent Macaigne
    Vincent
  • Charles Berling (small)
    Charles Berling
    Bernard
  • Pablo Pauly (small)
    Pablo Pauly
    Clément
  • Richard Fréchette (small)
    Richard Fréchette
    Father Guilbaud
  • Jonathan Cohen (small)
    Jonathan Cohen
    Sam
  • Benoît Poelvoorde (small)
    Benoît Poelvoorde
    Charles
  • Damien Bonnard (small)
    Damien Bonnard
    Pierre / François