Tag Archives: Brothers Grimm

The Juniper Tree (1990)

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The Juniper Tree
Director: Nietzchka Keene
Writer: Nietzchka Keene
Based on: the Brothers Grimm fairy tale
Cast: Björk, Bryndis Petra Bragadóttir, Valdimar Örn Flygenring, Guðrún Gísladóttir, Geirlaug Sunna Þormar
Seen on: 19.11.2021

Plot:
Margit (Björk) and her older sister Katla (Bryndis Petra Bragadóttir) had to leave their home after their mother (Guðrún Gísladóttir) was killed for being a witch. Desperate to find a new home, Katla bewitches Jóhann (Valdimar Örn Flygenring), a widowed farmer. Jóhann already has a son, Jónas (Geirlaug Sunna Þormar), who is unwilling to accept Katla, and Katla has little love for him either. As Margit becomes friends with Jónas, she finds herself conflicted in their fight.

The Juniper Tree is probably the most famout Icelandic movie, a gorgeously restored black-and-white fairy tale adaptation that shies away from the clear-cut morality of the original fairy tale.

The film poster showing a black-and-white image of a kneeling Margit (Björk) looking desperately up.
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Gretel & Hansel (2020)

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Gretel & Hansel
Director: Oz Perkins
Writer: Rob Hayes
Based on: the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel as collected by the Brothers Grimm
Cast: Sophia Lillis, Samuel Leakey, Alice Krige, Jessica De Gouw, Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Donncha Crowley, Charles Babalola
Seen on: 18.7.2020

Plot:
Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and her brother Hansel (Samuel Leakey) are in a dire spot. Their mother (Fiona O’Shaughnessy) doesn’t have the resources to feed them, so she sends them away, hoping that Gretel may have better luck away from home – to find employment and take care of her brother. But that’s easier said than done and Gretel’s hunt for work finally leads the two siblings to the mysterious cottage in the woods where an old lady (Alice Krige) may have everything they need.

Gretel & Hansel really did not work for me. The interesting visuals were completely marred by the incessant semi-spiritual voiceover that was just annoying for me. I would have preferred a silent film.

The film poster showing Gretel (Sophie Lillis) walking through the woods with an oil lamp. Shoes are hanging from the trees and a cabin can be seen in the back.
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Die Geschichte von der Gänseprinzessin und ihrem treuen Pferd Falada (1989)

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Die Geschichte von der Gänseprinzessin und ihrem treuen Pferd Falada [literally: The Story of the Goose Princess and Her Loyal Horse Falada]
Director: Konrad Petzold
Writer: Angelika Mihan, Marion Wallroth, Konrad Petzold
Based on: the fairy tale The Goose Girl as collected by the Brothers Grimm
Cast: Dana Morávková, Michaela Kuklová, Eberhard Mellies, Regina Beyer, Peter Zimmermann, Gerry Wolff, Alexander Höchst, Karsten Janzon
Seen on: 2.12.2018
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Plot:
Liesa (Michaela Kuklová) is the daughter of a duke who was the enemy of Aurinia’s (Dana Morávková) father who took in Liesa after she was orphaned. Liesa and Aurinia grew up as sisters, although they couldn’t be more different. When Aurinia travels to the neighboring kingdom to marry Prince Ivo (Alexander Höchst), Liesa accompanies her. On the way, she forces Aurinia to switch roles and ultimately makes Aurinia into a goose herder. But will Prince Ivo really be tricked?

Die Geschichte von der Gänseprinzessin und ihrem treuen Pferd Falada is a nice fairy tale adaptation that I would have probably loved as a child. Seeing it as an adult, I still thought it was sweet, but I also saw some problems.

The film poster showing a girl (Dana Moráková) putting a flower crown on a boy (Karsten Janzon).
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