A Cinderella Story (PG) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM
A Cinderella Story (PG, 2004) Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth
We're celebrating Hilary Duff's first time performing in Perth at her upcoming Lucky Me Tour stop at RAC Arena this October, with a special screening of one of her most beloved films.
Sam Montgomery (Hilary Duff) is a hardworking high school student stuck waitressing at her late father's diner, treated as little more than a servant by her cruel stepmother Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) and her spoiled stepsisters. Sam's only escape is her online friendship with a mysterious classmate, exchanged through anonymous late-night messages, unaware she's actually falling for Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray), the school's popular star quarterback. When Austin invites his anonymous online confidante to the Halloween dance, Sam seizes the chance to attend in disguise, only to flee before midnight without revealing her identity, leaving Austin determined to find the mystery girl who captured his heart, while Sam must navigate whether to reveal her true self despite her family's efforts to keep her hidden away.
Director Mark Rosman delivers a bright, contemporary reimagining of the classic fairy tale, transplanting its familiar beats into the recognisable world of American high school social hierarchies. Hilary Duff brings warmth and relatable vulnerability to Sam, grounding the fantastical premise in genuine teenage yearning for connection and self-worth, while Chad Michael Murray's earnest charm makes Austin's search for his mysterious online correspondent believably sincere. Jennifer Coolidge delivers gleeful comic villainy as the wicked stepmother, injecting sharp humour into the film's fairy tale framework. The film's clever updating of Cinderella's central conceits—the masked ball reimagined as a costume dance, the online chat room standing in for anonymous correspondence—demonstrates an affectionate, era-specific approach to timeless fairy tale storytelling, cementing its status as a beloved staple of early-2000s teen romance.
Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.
When: Sunday, September 27th at 2:00PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: PG (Mature themes)