The Little Matchgirl (2006 film)
The Little Matchgirl | |
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Buena Vista Pictures Distribution | |
Release date |
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Running time | 7 minutes |
Country | United States |
The Little Matchgirl is a 2006 animated short film produced by
Plot
The film is set to the Nocturne from Borodin's String Quartet #2.
During Christmas in Saint Petersburg, in pre-Revolution times, an impoverished girl tries to sell matchsticks on the streets, but every potential customer refuses.
Later that night, the girl huddles in a snowy alley, trying to warm herself against the cold. Eventually, she decides to strike some of her remaining matches for warmth.
As the first match burns, she sees in its flames visions of warming her hands. However, when the match gutters out, she is returned to the cold reality of the alleyway. She strikes the next match to find herself enjoying a meal, and then the next, embracing her loving grandmother under a Christmas tree.
The next morning finds the girl still huddled in the alley, unmoving and covered in snow as she had died in the cold. Suddenly, her grandmother appears, and lifts her into an embrace. The music crescendos at this satisfying conclusion, until it is suddenly revealed that the grandmother is actually a spirit when they pass through the wall together. As they vanish and their spiritual light fades with them, the girl's body appears still in the snow with a smile on her face.
A comet soars across the sky, marking the girl's journey from the earthly realm.
Differences from source material
The story's popularity far exceeded Andersen's original intention, which was to call immediate attention to the plight of Europe's suffering children.[1] The differences between the Disney version and the original Andersen text are minor. The setting was moved from the author's native Denmark to Russia; Allers noted that the story was non-specific about location, and Saint Petersburg would allow for beautiful scenery and was associated with snow and harsh winters.[3] The storytelling also leaves out the girl's cruel and overbearing father and the death of her grandmother, although the latter is implied at the end. Disney executives objected to the sad ending, so happier endings were tried, but ultimately rejected.[1][3]
Production
Allers and Hahn previously were involved in Disney animated films such as
The film made its debut at the
The Little Matchgirl was released on the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection Blu-ray on August 18, 2015.[4]
Score
Because the film was intended for use in a
Cultural impact
Exactly one year after this film was released, the story "Leah" in "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Annual" was released doing an adaptation of the story.
See also
Notes
- Walt Disney Feature Animation Paris, France.
References
- ^ a b c Barbagallo, Ron (2006). "Shedding Light on The Little Matchgirl". Animation Art Conservation. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ISBN 9781476672939.
- ^ a b c Armstrong, Josh (March 5, 2007). "Director Roger Allers on The Little Matchgirl". Animated Views. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ Doty, Meriah (June 4, 2015). "'Frozen Fever' (and Easter Eggs!) Coming Soon on Disney Shorts Blu-ray (Exclusive)". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
External links
- The Little Matchgirl at IMDb
- AWN review