The movie ‘Cruella,’ released in 2021 and directed by Craig Gillespie, allows us to have a closer look at one of the most famous villains from the Disney world. The movie stars Emma Stone as the young Estella, who would later become the famous Cruella de Vil. Alongside her comes the incredible performance by Emma Thompson as the Baroness von Hellman. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser portray Jasper and Horace, who would later become Estella’s sidekicks and accomplices. Right from the beginning, the movie urges us to explore the complexities of the woman that we have known all along to be merely a villain.
The place where the story unfolds is in London, which is very aptly described in relation to the period when the story occurred, which was the 1970s. Through the character of Estella, we see how she manages to make her way through a world that appears to have the odds against her. She attempts to find out where she fits and at the same time tries to figure out who she is as an individual. The development of Estella into the character of Cruella de Vil is not an immediate process but is woven through her experiences of loss, trickery, and needing to take control of a world that does not think much of her. This movie demonstrates that, at times, our identities can alter considerably when we find ourselves forced to reassess who we are because of the circumstances that surround us.
Fashion, Rivalry, and Friendship Shape Cruella’s Transformation
The acting in the film is also worth noting as it provides us with characters to support, even if they do not always behave in a morally upright fashion. Emma Stone’s acting is chock-full of life, pathos, and smarts. We see her struggle with her anger and sorrow, but also appreciate her resourcefulness as she navigates a world where privilege and power are the currency of the day. The Baroness von Hellman, as portrayed by Emma Thompson, is another character in whom we can admire as she shows us what it means to have power in a world where the value of things is measured in terms of money and prestige. The film also explores the importance of alliances and loyalty. Jasper and Horace are more than just comic relief for viewers. They are allies for Estella in her struggle to survive and accept her new life. Because of this, we see the importance of having friends even during the most difficult times, when everything is falling apart and there is no certainty about anything at all. However, the friendship that the three of them share allows viewers to have a breather from the situation, yet it also helps to reinforce that alliances have the power to shape whom we become.
Honoring the Past While Redefining a Classic Disney Villain
Another interesting aspect is how this film shows homage to the original copy of 101 Dalmatians and, at the same time, creates its own identity. From her half-black, half-white hair to her confident and well-known personality, there are clear signs of how we pay tribute back to what we already knew about Cruella. However, it does not lean on past success but instead utilizes its narrative to make it seem as if it is brand new and fresh once again, giving us a glimpse into why she became who she was and what we, in our own knowledge, thought we understood about her character. Finally, the film ends with us having more questions than answers, much like the character of Cruella herself. The film chooses not to give us any information on whether the character is fully a heroine or a villain, which is what makes this film so interesting. We are left to ponder upon the choices that she made within her life, the reasons behind these choices, and whether the situation that she was born into contributed to why she turned out to be the way that she did. This is what makes the Disney version of Cruella so great—it offers something that a villain story would, and that’s something to consider.
