Twenty-five years after its release, Cinderella -1997- isn't just a nostalgic relic. It is a political statement wrapped in a pop song, a diversity manifesto disguised as a fairy tale.
The 1997 Cinderella succeeds because it doesn’t try to be gritty or modern. It embraces the artifice of a musical and the innocence of a fairy tale. The color-blind casting is not a gimmick but a gift: it allows every actor to play the role without racial baggage. Brandy’s gentle, earnest Cinderella is a contrast to Whitney Houston’s dazzling, commanding Fairy Godmother—together they create a dynamic about belief and self-worth.