my mother take me to see this film when i be ten and the year before she die . it change my entire perspective on the world and set me free from the constraint of fairy tale and inspire me to do something worthwhile with my life ( write ) . i have see it a few time since then and and find it improve in pace with my understanding . apparently judy davis do not like this character or sympathize with her . all i can say be that i be glad she go ahead and take the role anyway . sybylla be like cinderella with a twist worthy of m. night shymalan . the film be sometimes beautiful and lyrical and sometimes depressing and ugly . at all time it be believable because the force drive sybylla transcend time and place represent creativity and independence . this film teach me that a gilded cage be still a cage . even twenty odd year after i first saw it and this film make me want to cheer . gillian armstrong and if youre out there and thank you .