I do not agree that the decision over conflicts is to choose what is right over what is wrong. Sometimes, it is a choice of what is good over what is bad. Snow White (白雪公主), an American musical fantasy film directed by Marc Webb in 2025, is caught by the above dilemma, i.e. a difficult choice had to be made between two alternatives that might be equally desirable.

Snow White gets her name, in both the Brothers Grimms’ fairytale and Disney’s 1937 animated film, from her physical features. Her skin is as white as snow, which is also meant to symbolize the character’s kind-hearted innocence. This is what is “dramatically correct”.

On the other hand, it is ‘politically correct’ not to discriminate against those who have dark skin. This is why in the 2025 movie, Disney cast Rachel Zegler of dark skin as Snow White. Of course, some people are upset because she is not ‘white as snow’. Her mother is of Colombian descent.

How much of a movie must be accurate to the original story? How much of it must be in accordance with the audience’s expectation? As a member of the audience, I wish Snow White to be white and in fact, she should have a pale skin.

Sometimes, bad luck hits you like in an ancient Greek tragedy. Writer Olivia B. Waxman pointed out that the other key actress Gal Gadot had been unabashedly pro-Israel. She urged world leaders to do more with the Hamas after the Israel-Hamas War in 2023. Pro-Palestine audience do not like her due to the political stand of this Israeli actress. The other actress Rachel, on the other hand, supported the Palestinians.

This perhaps explains why Snow White seems now to be a flop at the box office. Audiences simply do not connect with the film for one reason or another.

How about you? Please do go to watch the movie and decide yourself if you can enjoy the film?

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