debate about diversity
Not a bit “snow white”: New Disney film adaptation of “Snow White” sparks controversy
The first “Snow White” film adaptation from 1937. In the newly filmed version, the seven dwarfs no longer exist – at least not in their actual body size.
© IMAGO / United Archives
With “Snow White” another remake joins the long list of Disney remakes. The first images have now sparked a debate about the skin color of the leading actress – and the seven dwarfs are not getting off scot-free either.
“If I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as the wood on the frame!” – with these words the queen in Grimm’s “Schneeweißchen” wished for a child. And when she gave birth to a child shortly afterwards, it was exactly what she had imagined. Her skin was “white as snow,” hers Lips “red as blood” and her hair “black as ebony”.
Snow White – burned image in the minds of many people
The image of Snow White, as the fairy tale character is known today, has burned itself into people’s memories as a cultural icon. And not without reason: the fairy tale from 1812 became a sensation in 1937 as the first Disney animated film entitled “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The animation not only wrote film history, but also quickly became the most successful sound film of the 20th century. The plot is about the beautiful, white Snow White, who – abandoned in the forest – is given shelter behind the seven mountains by the seven dwarfs and in return is supposed to clean and cook for them.
A storyline that in today’s age of equality and diversity brings with it pitfalls and is simply no longer up to date. At least that’s what Disney thought – and announced a new version of the film classic as a live-action adaptation with a diverse cast and adapted conveyance of values.
Rachel Zegler, a newcomer with Colombian roots, was cast as Snow White. The Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who already celebrated great success with “Wonder Woman”, steps in as the evil stepmother. Zegler is also considered a rising star in the industry and was recently able to impress with her role in the remake of “West Side Story”. Ansu Kabia takes on the role of the hunter who, in the original, kidnaps Snow White into the dark forest for the queen – but lets her go out of mercy.
Debate about the seven dwarfs
But not only the cast is modernized. Disney announced that it would take a “completely different approach” in the remake. Instead of the seven dwarfs, Snow White will meet “seven magical beings” who will be her loyal companions – a point that distinguishes the remake from past film modifications such as “Snow White and the Huntsman”, in which the dwarfs simply do not happen. Not everyone likes the fact that the seven dwarfs play a role at all.
“Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage criticized the remake in early 2022, saying: “You’re progressive on the one hand, but then you still do this backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave. I did with mine achieved nothing to advance our cause?” In the podcast “WTF Podcast” by comedian Marc Maron, he accused Disney of double standards. On the one hand, the company would focus on diversity and progressiveness with the cast, while on the other hand retaining the old-fashioned seven dwarfs. That would denigrate and stereotype people of short stature, he would like Disney – if they are already using the diversity track – to have an “all in” attitude.
Leading actress Zegler is not “white” enough
Now, a year later, the first pictures of the set, viewed purely subjectively, actually testify to more diversity. But instead of positive feedback, Disney is now receiving criticism. After the “Daily Mail” published exclusive, first pictures of the film, a shitstorm broke out on Twitter, which let out the “colorful” and “wildly mixed-up” seven dwarfs. “Snow White and her seven…politically correct companions,” sneers one user, captioning the cast’s photo “Transy,” “Naggy,” “Dummy,” “Gypsy.” , “Gayie” (gay man), “Mixty” (people of color) and “Tiny” (short stature).
And the main actress Zegler is also the subject of the Shitstorm. After all, with her Colombian roots, she “doesn’t have the snow-white skin” that the character owes her name to. A debate that is reminiscent of the discussions about the cast of “The Little Mermaid” last year, in which Halle Bailey as “People of Color” took on the leading role of the white, red-haired mermaid in the fairy tale. Zegler himself commented on the criticism with the words: “I appreciate the love I experience from everyone who supports me online. But please don’t meet me in the course of the nonsensical discourse about my casting. I really, really don’t want that see.”
In her tweet, she also shared a series of pictures of her as a child dressed up as various Disney princesses. She wrote: “I hope every child knows that they can be a princess.”
“Snow White” is directed by “The Amazing Spider-Man” director Marc Webb. The remake will hit German cinemas on March 21, 2024.
Source: “The Wrap”, “DailyMail”, “WTF Podcast”