This morning I felt like baking a cake I had everything I needed except eggs, so I went down to the shops to get some. On the way I discovered a little store I didn’t know existed, it sells scrapbooking supplies, ribbons, stickers and that sort of thing. Unfortunately they are closing down next week, but I think I might go back tomorrow and buy some stick on jewels and pearls

I bought an orange at the store, and decided to make orange and poppyseed cake! Which is my favourite It took me about 2 hours to make alltogether and I decorated it with cream cheese icing and orange peel hearts. I haven’t had any yet, I’m saving it for dessert!
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Last night I watched Snow Queen a film directed by David Wu. I admit I didn’t expect it to be very good as it was made for television and the dvd cover was far from exciting. I felt like watching a Fairy Tale however, and as The Snow Queen is one of my favourite stories, I thought I’d give it a chance.

I was well rewarded. The movie was a beautiful, enchanting journey. It starts out by introducing Gerda and Kay and developing their relationship in a sweet, innocently romantic way. It made me want to go Ice skating with the Prince again. The film then takes a deliciously dark turn as the Snow Queen enters the plot, infecting Kay with a shard of her mirror and turning him in to a dark shadow of his true self. Eventually he is whisked away by the wicked Queen and Gerda must set out to find him (although the way in which she starts her journey gave me a shock!)

She embarks on a journey through the four seasons, each personified in a different way as the Spring Witch, the Summer Princess and the Autumn Robber. I liked the first two best, the Spring witch treats Gerda as a little girl, and Gerda skips cheerfully around her cottage in ringlet curls and plays with dolls. When she manages to escape she travels to the Palace of the Summer Princess which is in the ancient Chinese style. The Summer Princess is obessed with clothes and fashion and makes Gerda attend a ball where she must dance with hilarious gentlemen (Delfont Chalfont: Did I ever tell you all about my exploits with the 35th horse brigade at the battle of Tompkins Bay? Gerda: You couldn’t have. We’ve only just met.) as the Princess schemes to find her a husband. The Autumn Robber just imprisons her, which is a bit boring.

The acting was quite talented for a TV movie. Kay was charming and sweet but also played his dark side scarily well. The Snow Queen was ruthless, seductive and a little frightening. I think she would have played Narnia’s White Witch far better than Tilda Swinton. Gerda was very pretty, but a bit weak in some scenes.

What I enjoyed most about this movie was the artistry of the production. The worlds are created in a stunning vibrant way, I think the film was shot in Northern Europe. In each season there is a certain coloured hue to the lighting which sets the mood and brings out the colours of costume and set delightfully. Gerda gets a new outfit with each change of season to make the distinctions even clearer.

If you have a spare 3 hours to spend in an enchanted world, Snow Queen is well worth the visit.