Tantalizingly brilliant Blancanieves, a sinister telling of the Grimm Brother’s classic tale of “Snow White” comes to theaters this weekend.  The black and white presentation, with music and subtitle boards takes you back to the silent film era where  your ears, eyes and mind feast on acting that comes from the soul of the performers in gesture and facial expressions.  

It’s a beautiful day in Seville, Spain as thousands of people are filling the stadium to see the greatest matador of all time Antonio Villalta (Daniel Giménez Cacho) who on this day of April 21, 1910 will face six bulls.  Antonio makes quick work of his bulls, Velero, Regatillo, Fusilero, Sabanon and Macabeo, but as he nears the end of the sixth bull, Lucifer, he’s distracted and gets gored putting him in a wheel chair for life.  His pregnant wife (Inma Cuesta) dies during child birth and the baby, Carmelita, gets taken to her grandmother’s to get raised.  So starts a tale that unravels a sinister plot, takes many twists and turns and leads to a matador finale that’s steeped with jealousy and trickery.

Daniel Giménez Cacho as Antonio Villalta in BLANCANIEVES

The beginning I have described is a short portion and only leads you into what I found to be captivating, exciting, and comical at times with a love story that’s different yet endearing. The musical soundtrack is reminiscent of the silent films of days gone by and the subtitle cards look like they were borrowed from the 1920’s Birth of a Nation.  The film moves along at a nice pace, introducing the characters, telling the wicked story that includes seven dwarves and a jealous witch.  I found myself immersed so deeply in the plot that color didn’t matter, nor did speaking as the gestures of the actors make that all superfluous.

You’ll think it was made in the 1920’s but director Pablo Berger brings his story to the screen with fine acting, set design, and period costumes in mesmerizing black and white.  He guides his actors through their scenes as they give fascinating performances that captivate and amaze. The bullfight scenes dazzle as he focuses his camera on the matador with sweeping shots of his enemy, the bull. It’s like a flamenco dance as the cape swirls with every pass of the bull.  His crowd shots are pulled back and then focus on story characters as they show their pleasure and in some scenes a sinister look that could kill. From the intriguing beginning to an end you will not believe, he keeps to the elements that encompass the fairy tale “Snow White”.

I could go on all day talking about the film, but the best way to enjoy this masterpiece of film making is to see it yourself.  I highly recommend it for those that love film like the recent Oscar winner The Artist, students of film making, movie buffs and black & white aficionados.

FINAL ANALYSIS: See this film in a theater while you can, it’s remarkable. (A)

Additional Film Information:

• Cast: Maribel Verdu, Inma Cuesta, Angela Molina, Macarena Garcia, Sofia Oria
• Directed by: Pablo Berger
• Genre: Foreign, Drama, B&W, Silent
• MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence
• Running Time: 1 hr 44 min
• Opening Date: 4-12-13
• Distributed by: Cohen Media
• Awards: Winner of 10 of Spain’s Goyas (Equivalent of American Oscars)