Cenerentola

This Italian two-part television series inspired by the Cinderella story raised a fascinating issue of assessing dubbed, English-speaking foreign language films. In watching and listening to the apparently English dialogue from a definitely Italian characters and setting made for a difficult, prejudicial experience. At times, the stunted English dialogue made the viewing experience associated with the cheap old fashioned poorly and cheaply made Chinese martial art films of the 1960s. Overlooking such difficulties, the script and storyline of this Cinderella story was also fascinating in its complexity and depth with three storylines occurring within this movie. There was the traditional Cinderella story that evolved in different ways to involve a ball, a carriage, and Midnight deadline, and even a slipper. There was the piano conservatory theme. There was also a love story relationship among the staff. The photography and cinematography at times were also compelling with some powerful closeups. The European ambiance radiated as sense of romantic fantasy. The director's oversight teetered between stock old American parody and a refreshing avoidance of the typical stereotypical brashness of American simplicity in goodness and badness. This extended Cinderella film offered the audience a greater fullness of plot building on the Cinderella story but at the same time retaining some rough patches, especially towards the end of the film. This mixed bag of scenes and performances would have likely been better served with Italian dialogue with subtitles and a bit more careful, patient direction and script-revision. Instead of a "seven," this film could have been an "eight."

Just finished watching this 2 part series on a different twist on the Cinderella story set in the 1950's. My wife & I really enjoyed this! The previous reviewer has done a fantastic job on describing the story, so please read it! I just want to support their great review and to say it was a great story line with great actors & actresses. At the end it left an indication that there might be more shows later, which would be wonderful; however, since this was filmed in 2011 and apparently nothing more as yet, then it probably isn't happening. A shame. The shows are in English though filmed in Italy. Very enjoyable!!!

Italian actress Vanessa Hessler does an excellent job playing a modern day princess. Even though technically, she isn't. Since this story take place in 1950s Italy where an upper class girl and classical piano prodigy Aurora de Luca falls in love with one of the Ausperg brothers who lived next door to her who was very kind to her when she was thirteen years old and he dreams of becoming a writer. When her beloved father died suddenly, she is forced to live with her evil stepmother and mean-spirited stepsister who turns her family home into a hotel. She ends up working for her stepmother as a maid until she becomes of age to inherit her inheritance. She grows up to her into a beautiful young woman where an older maid and the cook protects her and love her like she is their surrogate daughter. When one of the brothers from her childhood return to their old home next door, now older and a successful businessman in the family business along with his parents, Aurora becomes excited and hopes it's the brother who befriended her when she was thirteen. Also, a rich, old lady with a mysterious past stays at the hotel and Aurora befriends her and learns she is in competition with the brother in order to secure a deal with another businessman both the brother and the old lady want to win a deal with. The brother's family uses the hotel for meals and Aurora deliver them food. The brother who name is Sebastian Ausperg doesn't remember her and treats her with much respect given to a someone who is the help. He has become a businessman obsessed with pleasing his father and gave up his dream of being a writer. Aurora is determined to get him to see her as more than the maid and hopes to bring back the kind spirited boy she remember as a teenager.

I really liked this two part minseries because the set, the location, the characters, and the location were great. It goes more deeply than the 1950s Disney's Cinderella where the characters just meet once and instantly fall in love. In this movie, the characters get to know one another. They aren't perfect and make mistakes. It's also a story about forgiveness and taking chances on one's self and never giving up even if the odds seemed against you. It's a story about following one's dreams. Yes, the story does get very Italian at points especially during the ball dance scene but it was still a great enjoying movie with a great message and compelling characters and a heroine you root for even when she is too scared or stubborn to follow her heart and dreams. A great movie you should give a chance to and one of the great adaptation of the Cinderella score with a beautiful score too.

I wish I could have seen this in Italian because the dub makes it sound like a cheap Christian production. I can imagine it being absolutely magical in the original language!

Absolutely loved this movie!!!!! The actors all did a fantastic job! Nice to see a movie with no profanity and sex scenes. Vanessa Hessler was perfect for her role as was Flavio Parenti for his. Ruth Maria Kubitschek was wonderful as the grandmother. Loved supporting actors Frank CrudeleIt and. Mariella Valentini in their roles.

The little boys in the movie were adorable. The music was fabulous! Loved the scenes on the scooter and in the garden. The costumes at the ball were very nice. Glad the movie was in two parts. I was not expecting this when it came on.

I will definitely watch this movie again.