Princess Fantaghiro

My idea of an ideal fantasy story has to be without a DID (Damsel in Distress); which is why I enjoyed watching The Cave of the Golden Roses and Ever After : A Cinderella Story. Perhaps any DID movie is a cliche.

I remember watching The Cave of the Golden Roses a.k.a. Fantaghiro back in '98. It is just a simple story yet entertaining and it made you think. Best of all is that the heroine - Fantaghiro was a functional character. She saved her kingdom and not merely fell flat on the floor fainted whenever danger came. Neverending trials and tribulations in her relationship with Romualdo made the love story intriguing.

The same goes for Ever After, the non-so-modern day Cinderella, played by Drew Barrymore. Portrayed in the setting of 14th or 15th centurey France, Danielle De Barbarac is not the richest girl around, but has a wonderful father that loves her. Because of him, she has learned to read and is very insightful on the world around her.

A story of a woman who fought for her right to control her own manor after her father died. The script was superb. There was also a quote from Thomas Moore's Utopia in the movie. And this is my favourite part :

Danielle / Cinderella to Prince Henry : If you suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.

[as Danielle rushes away] Henry: Have we met?
Danielle: I do not believe so, Your Highness.
Henry: I could have sworn I knew every courtier in the providence.
Danielle: Well, I'm visiting a cousin.
Henry: Who?
Danielle: My cousin.
Henry: Yes, you said that. Which one?
Danielle: Th-the only one I have, sire.
Henry: Are you coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?
[stops quickly] Danielle: No.
[quickly heads towards the gate]
Danielle: And yes.
Henry: Well, then, pray tell me your cousin's name so that I might call upon her to learn who you are. For anyone who can quote Thomas More is well worth the effort.
[Danielle stops]

Among my other favourite was when Danielle/Cinderella saved the Prince from the gypsy. The Prince was outnumbered and requested that Danielle to be released.

Danielle : I insist you return my things at once.
And since you deprive me of my escort,
I demand a horse as well.
The Gypsy Leader raised his eyebrow
Gypsy Leader: My lady, you may have whatever you can carry.
Danielle: May I have your word on that?
Gypsy Leader: On my honor as a gypsy, whatever you can carry.

And Danielle carried her Prince away on her back!

I've missed watching good movies like these.