After the death of his wife, the father of the young Ella remarries. Out of love for her father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother, Lady Tremaine, as well as her daughters Drisella and Anastasia, with open arms. But when Ella’s father also dies, she is at the mercy of her new jealous and cruel family. One day, Ella meets a beautiful young man in the forest. Not knowing he is a prince, she thinks he works at the palace, and knows she has found her soul mate. With hope in her heart, she finds out that all the young ladies in the kingdom are invited to a ball the palace and looks forward to meeting the charming “Kit” there again. But then her stepmother ruins her dress. Luckily, Ella has a fairy godmother, who helps her get ready for the ball thanks to some mice and a pumpkin – and act that will change Ella’s life…

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There are more than 300 versions of this fairy tale, from opera to cinema. Kenneth Branagh is at the helm of this new adaptation of Disney’s classic, taken from the 17th century tale by Charles Perrault. The Irish director has changed a few details to keep the story moving – but not too much. Cate Blanchett makes a wonderfully wicked stepmother, while Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey) expertly hide their own beauty behind stupidity. As a patient and big-hearted "Cinderella", Lily James (also from Downton Abbey) is perfect and irresistible, from her girl-next-door prettiness to her helpfully golden locks. The set design and costumes are designed down to the last detail. Costume designer Sandy Powell has already been nominated for ten Oscars and is expected to garner an 11th; with a team of 20 she racked up 500 hours of work. A 360° turn for Kenneth Branagh, whose last movie was Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. A success with no risk taken, but also easily forgotten.