The Little Match Girl

Do you remember the story of The Little Match Girl - by Hans Christian Andersen? Of course you do. Maybe not every detail but you do remember the general plot right?

For some reason I got to thinking about her tonight and decided to see what I could find on the YouTube. I found this version done by Disney which is surprisingly (‘cause it’s Disney) faithful to the original story and still contains the saddest parts and has absolutely NO talking animals in it. I wish I’d have come across this a few weeks ago when it would have been a bit more timely. Even so, it’s such a wonderful telling of a sad but beautiful story.

Here is a link to the text version of the story in case you want to refresh your memory before you watch this “silent animated film” version. (The story is shown accompanied by some perfect music but there is no talking in it.) I hope you will take a couple of minutes to read the story once now. I think it will help you get the most out of the film version.

http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/981/

And now for Disney's "The Little Match Girl".



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The Little Match Girl, poor, abused, and unloved. We witness the final moments of her life when, although literally freezing, she is too afraid to go home having been unsuccessful in selling any of her nearly worthless matches. At first she resists the urge to use any of the matches for herself but she finally gives in and, as she slowly freezes to death, we are shown her desperate wishes for only the most basic human needs of shelter, food and love. Things we so often take for granted. Has there ever been anything sadder? Finally her grandmother, the only person who had loved her, comes to take her away from all the pain and the last thing we see is a shooting star, which as the Little Match Girl knew, having been told by her grandmother, meant a soul had ascended to God.
The contrast in the heart breaking yet somehow happy ending is something long lost in modern children’s stories I think.

I’m not sure why I made a post about this. I guess it’s not so much for you this time as it is for me. I was just so happy to discover this little gem and to be reminded to be grateful for all I have, especially on a cold winter night; happy to remind myself to keep an eye out for the Little Match Girls out there and when I encounter one to be sure and buy every one of her matches and then some.

P.S. I also found out that this very same video is included on disc 2 of the two disc version of The Little Mermaid (another Hans C. Andersen story) DVD in the bonus features. So if you happen to have the DVD, it of course looks much better.