Adaptions For Adults

David Kaplin's 1997 short Film

David Kaplan’s short film "Little Red Riding Hood" is an adaption of the oral folktale The Story of Grandmother. The elements of the classical music, the non-speaking actors and the use of black and white resembles a black and white film from the past (Orme, 2015, p.1).

The protagonist is young, beautiful, and looks to be quite innocent. This is shown at the beginning of the film when she is seen patting her goat by a lake. However, remember, looks can be deceiving. Little Red Riding Hood is seeking sexual desire and exploring her sexuality, rather than being the wolf’s victim.

The protagonist watches the wolf (who appears to be half man and half wolf) long before he sees her. When the wolf finally sees her, the narrator says “he asked her what path she would take; the path of pins or the path of needles.” Little Red Riding Hood strokes the wolf’s face and takes the path of pins. Consequently, the wolf took the other path to Granny’s house where he kills Granny.

In The Story of Grandmother, there cat is a metaphorical representation of the protagonists inner thoughts. Similarly, in Kaplan’s film there is a cat who looks directly at the camera and says “A slut is she who eats the flesh of her Granny”. Unlike in The Story of Grandmother, after Little Red Riding Hood sets herself free by untying the wooded rope, she secretly watches the wolf’s frustration at the situation.

This film is intended for the adult audience and closely follows the story line of The Story of Grandmother.

Zipes argues that the film focuses on female desire. Furthermore, Little Red Riding Hood certainly does seduce the wolf. The young girl, who is exploring her sexuality, does not give the metaphorical creature what he wants (Orme, 2015).

Unlike in Perrault and Grimm’s version, she is not saved by the male hero. Instead, she is the heroine.

press play to watch David Kaplan's 1997 short film

Recommended reading for further research

Ormen, J. (2015). A Wolf's Queer Invitation: David Kaplan's Little Red Riding Hood and Queer Possibility. Marvels & Tales, 29 (1), p.87-109. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ez.library.latrobe.edu.au/docview/1663315584?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:primo&accountid=12001

Catherine Hardwicks 2011 Movie

In Catherine Hardwicks movie “Little Red Riding Hood” the character of Little Red Riding Hood is a beautiful, sexy, and not so innocent young woman. She is torn between two men, Peter and Henry. It appears that she was once a peasant child, as her family wants her to Marry Henry for his wealth. At the beginning of the movie, the motif of the red cloak is absent. However, later in the film, Grandmother gives Velerie a red cloak to wear.

Press play to view the trailer of Catherine Hardwicks 2011 Little Red Riding Hood

This movie, like many other versions of the tale, begins with the little girl running through the woods. However, she is going to collect water, not to visit Grandmother.

Velerie then grows into a beautiful, young women. In both Grimm’s, Perrault and in the oral folktale, Little Red Riding Hood is a little girl, she does not grow up into a young women.

Velerie has a woodcutter boyfriend, peter. The archetype of the male hunter derived from Grimm’s and other various versions from the nineteenth century.

Velerie lives in a village which resembles the early European societies. Similarly, prior and during the seventieth century, village people were scared to explore the woods in fear of the werewolf (Orenstein, 2002). In the movie, the people of the village fear the werewolf. In one scene, the wolf is killed, and everyone believes they are safe. However, a professional in the field of werewolves suggest that the wolf that was killed by the people, was not a werewolf. From this, people start questioning who the werewolf is. At times Valerie thinks it is her Grandmother, or Henry.

Velerie is able to speak with the werewolf, but does not want anyone to know this in fear of believing they will accuse her of witchery. This is another element which reflects the society of sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth century (Orenstein, 2002).

In various versions of Little Red Riding Hood the protagonist is known as “Little Red Riding Hood” however, in this movie, she goes by Velerie.

Hardwick as introduced structural elements from Perrault’s Le Petite Chaperon Rouge, Grimm’s Little Red Cap and the oral folktale of The Story of Grandmother. Although, the character of a Father is introduced in the movie.

This movie certainly keeps the viewer wanting more.

Recommended reading for further research into how the movie was made

Robertson, B. (2011). Cry Wolf. Computer Graphics, 34, (3), p.32-34. Retrieved from http://ap01.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=2924845800002146&institutionId=2146&customerId=2145