Controversy, Love, and Joan Didion: Disney's 'Snow White' in the Face of the Modern Princess

 Controversy, Love, and Joan Didion: Disney’s Snow White in the Face of the Modern Princess

By: Jessica L. Smith

One image of Rachel Zegler, dressed in Snow White attire whilst holding a copy of Joan Didion’s The White Album, was what captured my attention in the wave of anticipation for the release of the live action Snow White remake. This behind-the-scenes shot, juxtaposing Didion’s contemporary collection of essays with the classic character of Snow White, was what I was thinking of as I walked into the cinema to watch Marc Webb’s take on the fairytale. Pushing past the heavy criticism, I fixated upon this image in my mind as the lights dimmed and the film began. 

As the credits rolled, I sighed. Perhaps I shouldn’t judge the film based on a behind-the-scenes image of what appears to have been Rachel Zegler’s reading material during the filming process. Yet, it was the source of my hope for the new Snow White, which promised timely, attentive changes to the beloved 1937 classic. Whilst backlash towards the film have focused on racist attitudes toward Rachel Zegler’s mixed ethnicity, or on Gal Gadot’s pro-Israeli attitudes, much criticism of the film itself stems from these changes to the storyline from the untouchable original. Yet, if these changes meant that Snow White reads Joan Didion, I was down.

Instead, it felt as if Disney missed a trick. Whilst there’s a greater focus on Snow White’s childhood in this re-imagined version, allowing for a sharp contrast between Snow White’s good nature and the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot), the character of Snow White lacks the depth I was anticipating. The image of an independent, fearless Snow White, standing up to the Evil Queen to liberate her kingdom, isn’t quite achieved. Snow White stills holds a love interest, Jonathon (Andrew Burnap), who differs from the Prince of the original as, in a Robin Hood-esque style, he leads a group of bandits stealing from the monarchy to give to the poor. Jonathon encourages Snow White in her mission to showcase her bravery in defying the Evil Queen, allowing for a take on Snow White that doesn’t largely centre around love. Yet, to retain the nostalgic, crucial element of the original, Jonathon still kisses Snow White to save her from a death-like sleep after she takes a bite out of the enchanted apple. Snow White awakens, ready to fight the Evil Queen. Joan Didion couldn’t have been further from my mind.

Love couldn’t be removed from the plot. It shouldn’t be, teaching young viewers the message that love and ambition can coincide. Yet, it felt as if Disney were holding back, lacking confidence in their new storyline. Too adamant on a modernised Snow White tale, the magic of the original is somewhat forgotten. Instead of the seven dwarfs, whose names many of us could recall even now, Webb’s film uses CGI ‘magical beings’. Whilst there is a subplot for Dopey, often the butt of the joke, gaining the courage to speak up from Snow White to reveal that he was the narrator of the film all along, the use of CGI over hiring talented actors has been deemed a poor decision. Despite a huge 270-million-dollar budget, reflecting Disney’s hope for nostalgic audiences flocking to see the film, the costumes have also been at the centre of the film’s criticism. Deemed as like Halloween costumes, or bad cosplay, the costumes have lacked the dazzling, expensive appeal anticipated.

The result: questions arising as to whether live action remakes of films are needed. Disney had no luck in getting the Snow White live action right. Some previous live action Disney princess remakes, like the 2017 Beauty and the Beast revamp starring Emma Watson, or the 2015 Cinderella remake starring Lily James, were widely successful in comparison to Snow White. Perhaps because they didn’t stray too far from the original storyline, or as it was a novelty for audiences at the time of their release. Either way, it appears now that audiences would rather Disney make new films and create new stories to treasure.

Disney princesses now are hallmarked by ambition, drive, and adventure, contrasting the central focus on romantic love that dominated the past. Disney potentially have grappled with a princess capable of both love and ambition through the character of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, an independent bookworm who rejects Gaston’s romantic advances and takes action to save her father from the Beast, whom she ultimately falls in love with. Yet, the new wave of Disney princesses reclaims this sense of ambition and places it in a new light, with traditional tales of love materialising as less relevant in our modern climate.

Take the hit animated 2013 film Frozen, which centres on the sisterhood of Princesses Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel). Frozen acts as a celebration of Elsa’s power to manipulate ice and snow, in which she defies her rejection from society and learns to accept her identity. Elsa doesn’t require a romance, only the love of her sister, yet, if she had one, it wouldn’t make her powers or independence any lesser. Instead of the true love kiss of Snow White, it is Elsa’s loving hug that saves her sister, Anna, at the end of the film. Even Anna’s brief relationship with Prince Hans isn’t a stereotypical Disney love story when he is revealed to be manipulative and power-seeking. Instead, Anna’s ambition to help her sister dominates the film over her relationship with the Prince.

Disney’s 2016 film Moana, too, centres on ambition, adventure, and love for one’s community over any sense of romantic love. An epic, quest-like tale, Moana is a visually bright and stunning film that centres around Moana’s (voiced by Auli’I Cravalho) deep connection with the ocean and craving to explore beyond the reef of her island. Moana sets sail to find demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) after a blight places her island’s resources in peril. Set to be the island’s next leader, Moana faces challenges headstrong, learns to embrace her powerful heritage, and successfully follows her own heart. The plot is fresh, empowering and unique, creating a lasting and uplifting expression through its adventure, aided by a memorable soundtrack. Moana’s character has been praised as a great role model for children; independent, brave, kind, and unafraid to follow her desires.

Other examples include Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) in the 2012 film Brave, an independent and bold young Scottish princess talented in archery. Merida longs to control her own future and rejects her mother, Queen Elinor’s (voiced by Emma Thompson), wish for an arranged marriage. When a spell in the form of a cake bought from a witch turns her mother into a bear, Merida embarks on an adventure to undo the curse and showcase her courage. Brave focuses on the complex relationship between mother and daughter over romantic love, therefore moving away from the stereotypical princess film like with Frozen centring on sisterhood. A more recent take on a modern Disney princess derives from the 2021 film Raya and the Last Dragon. Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is a fearless warrior princess who must work with dragon Sisu (voiced by Awkwafina) to reclaim the glory of her kingdom and protect their magic against a strange plague. Raya and the Last Dragon embraces Southeast Asian culture, whilst bringing to the fore an independent, resilient heroine who must learn to trust, heal, and forgive.

Disney princesses defined many of our childhoods. From playground discussions, turn debates, of your favourite princess; to dressing up as the princesses, wearing handmade crowns and heels that trip you up as you strut; to religiously re-watching princess films until you knew the story off by heart. With the recent wave of live action remakes of our favourite Disney films, the younger generation now have a greater chance of princesses defining their own childhoods. Yet, success is not guaranteed for live action remakes, as highlighted by the new live-action Snow White. Perhaps, then, this would be better achieved through new stories, like the princesses of Moana, Frozen, Brave, and Raya and the Last Dragon, teaching young audiences the value of ambition, independence, and of celebrating one’s identity. Ideally, there is a middle ground to be achieved between a feminist princess and the original princesses, a next step for Disney in harnessing the power of ambition and love coinciding. 

Photos provided via @rachelzegler on IG.