A Review of the Movie "Ever After" in Relation to the Renaissance

The movie “Ever After” is a classical example of a Renaissance setting movie portraying how a certain Cinderella–like-lady, named Danielle, lived her life within the bosom of her stepmother and two (2) step sisters’ greediness and maltreatment by striving to remain that simple, smart, hardworking, and typical country girl during the Renaissance period. The peak of it came into being when Prince Henry, the only heir to the throne of the King and Queen of France, whose marriage had been pre-arranged by his Parents wanted to be liberated from the preferences and choices of his parents in order to discover the true meaning and identity of his existence. From the point Prince Henry and Danielle had that accidental and unexpected encounter until such time that they fell in love with each other despite of all the odds, indifferences and anxieties of existence, the movie’s background, culture, way of life of the characters and even the way they communicated and expressed their ideas and thoughts present a very typical Renaissance atmosphere. It is, therefore, the intention of this paper to present a movie review through detailed presentation of the general characteristics of Renaissance vis a vis the movie “Ever After”.

1) Rediscovery of Classical Literature and Art

It is a fact that during the Middle Ages- the period preceding Renaissance- interest in classical literature was mostly confined to the professional activities of theologians, philosophers, and writers which tends to serve a specialized interest and purpose only. In the Renaissance, as portrayed in the movie, people from various segments of society appears to have studied classical literature and art and such works of art and literature existed largely for the ordinary individuals’ self gratification and as objects of ideal beauty or learning. The main character, Danielle, who is just merely an ordinary country girl, presents her interests in books and literature which clearly portrays her dedication and interest to such fields for her own satisfaction and for the sake of learning.

2) Curiosity and Objectivity

Renaissance, being marked by an intense interest in the visible world and in the knowledge from concrete sensory experience, turned away from the abstract speculation, traditions and interest in life after death that characterized the Middle Ages. Although Christianity was not abandoned, the movie presents more of a discussion not on religious issues but to the more concrete and sensible ones as manifested in the topics and issues usually maintained in the discussion between Prince Henry and Danielle. Among these are their discussions regarding situations of the peasants, treatment of the citizenry, including the Prince’s attitude of not succumbing to the desires of his parents and his thirst to know more of the real meaning of his existence. Leonardo de Vinci’s statement to Prince Henry about “not to leave everything to fate but must lift a hand if he really wanted to marry a woman of his own choice” indicates the Renaissance attitude of going away with the old ways of traditions.

It appears too that there was the need at that time to reform Christian society which can be effected through education as expressed in the desire of Prince Henry to build a university and a library.

3) Individualism

It is worthy to mention that in the Renaissance period, the unique talents and potential of the individual became significant. As manifested in the unique character of Danielle regarding her opinions and knowledge at that moment to various fields especially in the field of literature, which ultimately ignited the Prince’s desire to be attracted with her. The attention given to the development of an individual’s potential brought with it a new emphasis on education where the Prince himself announces his desire, and to reiterate, to build a university and a library to that effect.

This goes also with the emphasis of the capabilities and rights of the individual as exemplified by the statement of Danielle when she bargained with Prince Henry for the liberty of one of her servants who is supposed to be imprisoned because of non-payment of taxes/debt.

The way Danielle made a justification for the release of her servant anchoring on the reason that being a peasant or being uneducated should not be a reason for a person to be branded as thief since it is not the person’s fault to be a peasant presents an emphasis on the respect for individual rights.

This goes also with the significance on the importance of the power of human reason as again demonstrated in the way Danielle reasoned out every time she communicates with Prince Henry. The way Leonardo de Vinci expressed himself is also a manifestation of Renaissance’s characteristic of giving significant importance to the development of human reason.

There was also this interest in human personality and behavior as can be grasped in the conversations between Prince Henry and Danielle which mainly lies the reason why both fell in love with each other.

The introduction of the book “Utopia” in the movie posits that it is the period of Renaissance. This work of Sir Thomas More depicts the island that symbolized More’s concept of an ideal community and was used to satirize conditions in England that time. Danielle’s habit of reading most of the time of the book “Utopia” and even using some of its versions in her conversation with Prince Henry denotes the effort of individuals during that period to strive for ideas and knowledge.

4) Humanism

Renaissance puts emphasis also on the development of the character and the body just as
important as the mind since young people were encouraged to open themselves to all the possibilities of life. This humanism is mainly based on the idea that people are rational beings which tries to by put emphasis on the dignity and worth of the individual especially on those that pertains to his physical and moral development.

The attitude of Prince Henry’s turning away from the likes and choice of his parents clearly stressed out the attitude that time of people opening themselves to all the possibilities of life. The parents’ decision to allow the Prince to have a break and given a period of 5 days to discover what he really wants in life especially in the selection of a woman to marry clearly indicates the emphasis on humanitarian aspects of Renaissance.