By: Ava Rogha
If you’ve been struggling to find a decent movie to watch recently, how about giving Disney’s shorts a go?
We did just that and we were not disappointed! Disney + is currently offering plenty of short films including Frozen Fever, Toy Story and Jack Jack Attack. However, our current favorite is by far The Little Matchgirl (2006) which is inspired by an old tale written by famous Danish author called Den Lille Pige Med Svolstikkerne (1845) in the Danish language.
This tale tells the story of a little girl who sells matchsticks for a living and is struggling to earn enough to provide for herself. Disney’s version was released in 2006, and it’s a six minute version of the same story directed by Don Hahn.
It’s Christmas time and people are celebrating, but this little girl is left behind with no family to hold on to. She spends the whole day trying to sell her matchsticks, but no one seems to be willing to help her out! The girl is hopeful at first, but after a whole day of trying, she gives up as it’s getting darker and the weather is getting colder.
The short film has no dialogues or monologues. The only sound the audience is provided is the emotional background music, which had me feeling sympathy for the girl. This short film clearly depicts the current state of our society, in which people can be selfish and simply arrogant. It is saddening to see that people are celebrating life, but not sharing that little bit of happiness and positivity with a little girl, who has no family to spend Christmas with.
Nonetheless, the film also teaches us about the power of love and family when the little girl’s deceased grandmother is all that comes to her mind when her mind wanders off. It really just shows us that she was never fully alone and that her grandmother was watching her all this time. We don’t want to spoil how this short film ends, but we can admit that we shed a tear or two while watching it.
Enough about why the movie made us slightly depressed, let’s focus on the beautiful imagery and the colors used to portray the animation. They could not have fit better with the storyline!
This short film is a piece of art and we were simply amazed to see this beautiful old tale come to life. So if you’re struggling to find something to watch, how about giving this one a go? With its history and background, it will definitely not disappoint! We also recommend you read the original book after you watch it, it will teach you a lot about gratitude and the reality of our society.
Stream it now on Disney +!
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