Synopsis

Cinderella lives on the prosperous estate of her stepmother and is treated like a maid. Her only happiness is interacting with her forest animals. One day, the royal family announces a visit to the village. Getting in their good graces, Cinderella’s stepmother tries to be invited to the court ball and thus get the prince to marry her daughter. The young frivolous man, however, harbours no thought of marriage and prefers to go out hunting with his friends instead. He meets Cinderella in the woods when she saves a deer from the royal hunters and proves to be a skilled horseback rider. As the night of the big ball arrives, one of the servants has to buy fabrics for the noble women’s dresses. On his way back, a small hazelnut branch with three nuts falls into his lap. He gives the branch to Cinderella who discovers its magical properties. With some magic and help from her animals, she manages to gain entry to the ball. She once again meets the prince, who falls for her head over heels. But a happy end is not yet guaranteed. Vacláv Vorlíček’s mischievous retelling of the famous fairy tale impresses through witty dialogue and numerous, endearing details, complete with a memorable soundtrack and charming costumes. The film has been recognised as one of the best fairy tale adaptations of film history and is an absolute cult film.