Over the past several months, there has been significant controversy surrounding Disney’s new live-action remake of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” starring Rachel Zeigler as Snow White. The major contention is that Zeigler does not bear much resemblance to the title princess. However, when the movie was released in March, a much larger problem became apparent; the remake fails to capture the gentle kindness that is fundamental to the original film.
In 1937, Disney released its very first animated feature film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” This movie has become dear to many people’s hearts, not only because it was Disney’s debut but because of the touching kindness Snow White showed towards those around her. Despite her wicked stepmother forcing her to work as a servant, Snow White shows resilient kindness and joy, never ceasing to dream of true love.
The plot is simple, allowing her gracious nature to remain at the forefront of the film. The evil queen sends a huntsman to kill the princess, but seeing how kind she is, he cannot bear to commit the act. Snow White then seeks shelter and resides in the dwarfs’ cottage until she is poisoned and killed by the queen. But a prince, enchanted with Snow White’s kindness and beauty, brings her back to life with a kiss. There are no major plot twists; just a simple series of challenges that Snow White overcomes through her gracious nature.
The new “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” completely disrupts the nature of the animated film. Zeigler’s portrayal of Snow White lacks the captivating warmth of the original character, instead conveying frustration and discontent; this completely contradicts the distinctive radiance that makes the princess so lovable in the original film. Furthermore, the remake overcomplicates the simple plot with the addition of unnecessary storylines, such as a detachment between the royal family and everyday people, a group of bandits on a secret mission, and Snow White’s attempts to locate her missing father. While these could all make for interesting plot points, they completely diminish the simplicity of the original film which allowed Snow White’s kind nature to shine.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is a timeless and magical classic due to its joyful and ever-loving protagonist. If the remake had emphasized graciousness as the animated film did, it could have brought this heartwarming story to the next generation; however, the live-action version fails to portray Snow White’s compassionate charm, and altogether downplays the significance of her personality. While this remake has received significant criticism—the majority being skin-deep—the real issue is that it diminishes the heartwarming message of kindness and empathy so central to the original film.
This article also appears in our June 2025 print edition.
