UGLY STEPSISTER, THE
(director/writer: Emilie Blichfeldt; cinematographer: Marcel Zyskind; editor: Olivia Neergaard-Holm; music: John Erik Kaada/Vilde Tuv; cast: Lea Myren (Elvira), Ane Dahl Torp (Rebekka), Thea Sofie Loch Naess (Agnes), Isac Calmroth (Prince Julian), Adam Lundgren (Dr. Esthetique), Malte Gårdinger (Isak), Ralph Carlsson (Otto), Flo Fagerli (Alma, the youngest singer); Runtime: 110; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Maria Ekerhovd; Mer Films/IFC/Shudder; 2025-Norway/Denmark/Romania/Poland/Sweden-in Norwegian with English subtitles)
“A provocative re-imagining of the classic fairy tale.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A stylish 18th-century period-piece horror-comedy directed and written with assurance as a feminist themed story in her feature film debut by Norwegian director and writer Emilie Blichfeldt..
It offers a bold new view on the familiar Perrault and Grimm Brothers’ versions of the Cinderella fairy-tale, as its ugliness is matched only by its beauty.
It’s handsomely produced despite its low-budget. The visuals by cinematographer Marcel Zyskind lend a ravishing sense of beauty to the grim story’s dreamlike qualities.
Its set in a fictional, surreal, charming, fairy-tale world in Scandinavia, at a derelict mansion. Otto (Ralph Carlsson), the money-strapped stepfather of the 18-year-old Elvira (Lea Myren), dies and her scheming, social-climbing, mom Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp), has lost her source of income. Mom pressures her obedient daughter Elvira to become beautiful and marry the wealthy, handsome and poetical Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth) so he can support the family. Elvira plays second fiddle to her younger, attractive blonde stepsister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Naess), whose mother is deceased.
To please mom, Elvira gets her braces removed and from the same crude cosmetic surgeon (Adam Lundgren) receives two grotesque beauty enhancing procedures–a nose job done without being put under (as she’s struck by a hammer to the bridge of her nose) and is forced to eat a tapeworm to lose weight, as her stomach is filled with pain as she pukes. Both are difficult graphics to watch without squirming in horror.
At the upcoming Prince’s Ball, attended by Agnes and Elvira, Julian will announce who he has chosen in his search to be his new bride. Both sisters want to marry Julian, who Elvira has fallen for after reading his vapid poetry book. It’s revealed that Julian is no angel–in fact, he’s a sexist who uses his poetry on women to sleep with them.
The point of the story is how women are judged by different standards than men, and are treated as the inferior gender by those who might not look out for their best interests. Society is called out as the main villain that perpetuates this ugly myth.
It’s a provocative film, re-imagining the classic fairy tale for modern times, with a different look for Cinderella.
Lea Myren captivating performance kept me on my toes. Its faults were poor pacing and leaving too many subplots unexplored.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 4/21/2025 GRADE: A-
dennisschwartzreviews.com