Little Red Riding Hood (1997 film)
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Little Red Riding Hood is a 1997 black and white short film (twelve minutes long) based on the traditional children's fairytale Little Red Riding Hood. Written and directed by David Kaplan and with cinematography by Scott Ramsey, it features Christina Ricci in the title role.
Plot
This version of the classic children's story employs elements of black comedy. The black-and-white scenario shows the forest of the tale, and narrator Quentin Crisp is the only voice heard in the film.
An androgynous anthropomorphized black wolf, portrayed by ballet dancer Timour Bourtasenkov, tries to trick Little Red Riding Hood. He successfully eats her grandmother, and then tries to eat her. However, she tricks him and survives. She is clever enough manage without being rescued by the huntsman often included in versions of the tale, and does not "rescue" the eaten grandmother at all; she in fact eats her grandmother's flesh as well, even after being warned by a cat. She is thus portrayed, in another contrast to traditional depictions of the story, as being less than innocent. The film bears similarities to one of the earliest Italian versions of the fairytale, known as "La Finta Nonna" (The False Grandmother).
Cast
- David Kaplan: Director and writer
- Rocco Caruso and Jasmine Kosovic: Producers
- Scott Ramsey: Cinematographer
- Christina Ricci: Little Red Riding Hood
- Timour Bourtasenkov: The Wolf
- Quentin Crisp: Narrator
Reception
Awards
- Avignon Film Festival, 1998: Prix Panavision award, David Kaplan
- Avignon/New York Film Festival: Vision Award, Scott Ramsey
- Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival 1999: Certificate of Excellence — Best Cinematography, Scott Ramsey