THE PRACTICE OF DECONSTRUCTING THE VILLAIN'S FUNCTIONAL PERSONAE IN FAIRY TALE FILM ADAPTATIONS꞉ CINDERELLA (2015) AND TAM CAM꞉ THE UNTOLD STORY (2016)

Abstract

This paper examines the transformation of the stepmother villain's functional role in two representative fairy
tales ‑ Cinderella by Charles Perrault and Tam Cam by Nguyen Dong Chi ‑ and their respective film adaptations꞉
Cinderella (2015) and Tam Cam꞉ The Untold Story (2016). By comparing the process of character construction
from literature to cinema, the study identifies both the preserved and newly developed aspects of the functional
system used to depict villainous characters. Rather than viewing these figures merely as fixed archetypes
embodying the psychological and moral traits of evil, the analysis reveals a process of functional
deconstruction and reinterpretation. This provides a more comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the
evolution of villainous character imagery within the context of contemporary culture and cinema.