“Ever After” @ FLMNH (July 5)

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Creative B” summer film series features entertaining fantasy and science fiction films and roundtable discussions by scholars, scientists, writers, and artists.

As part of UF’s campus-wide celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, each of this summer’s films is associated in some way with the figure of the great Renaissance polymath. (In two of the films, da Vinci is, fancifully, a character. See if you can spot the connections in the others!) The series begins on July 5 with Andy Tennant’s 1998 film Ever After.

A charming, family-friendly retelling of the Cinderella story as a non-supernatural historical romance, Ever After is set in 16th century France and features among its characters actual historical figures of the period, including King Francis I and Prince Henry II of France, the Brothers Grimm, and… Leonardo da Vinci (!).

You know the plot: Danielle de Barbarac is the only daughter of widower Auguste de Barbarac, who dies soon after his marriage to the haughty Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent. Rodmilla and her two daughters compel Danielle to become their servant, and deprive her of nearly all contact with the outside world. One day Danielle briefly crosses paths with a mysterious, handsome stranger. He is captivated by her keen intelligence, grace, and beauty; she annoyed by his arrogance but intrigued by his wish to transcend his privilege; they fall in love. He is, of course, a Prince, and his father the King has commanded him to choose a bride at a great masquerade ball. Danielle’s mother and step-sisters, who know what competition she is for them, conspire to keep her from the ball and lock her away in a pantry. But Leonardo da Vinci helps her to escape and makes her a pair of wings…

Ever After stars Drew Barrymore (as Danielle), Angelica Houston (as Rodmilla), Dougray Scott (as Prince Henry), and Patrick Godfrey (as Da Vinci). Witty, deeply knowing in its transformations of the Cinderella myth, and unapologetically romantic, the film has been celebrated as a modern feminist interpretation of the classic fairy tale.

The evening’s events will begin with an open reception from 6–7 PM. The screening will be preceded and followed by a roundtable discussion featuring:

• Ian Breheny – Museum Operations Specialist at the FLMNH, co-founder of the film series, and moderator
• Jeanne Ewert – English and American Literature, Film and Folklore Studies Librarian, UF’s George A. Smathers Libraries
• Tim Lawrence – Special effects artist and concept sculptor, ILM Creature Shop supervisor for Ghostbusters 2, concept sculptor for Jurassic Park and character FX crew and puppeteer for Gremlins 2 and Harry & the Hendersons
• Allison Raper – PhD candidate in UF’s College of the Arts, specializing in Late Medieval and Early Renaissance art, gender studies, and fashion history

Ever After is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and mild sexual innuendo.

On July 12, beginning at 7 PM, the series continues with Ken Annakin’s Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

All “Creative B” events are free and open to the public.