The Enchanter of Oz: Witch of the East In L. Frank Baum's beloved tale "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," the Witch of the East plays a significant role despite her limited presence in the story. Known as the Munchkin Witch or the Good Witch of the East, she is introduced to readers as the ruler of the Munchkin Country in the Land of Oz. The Witch of the East holds power and influence over the Munchkins, who revere her as their leader and protector. Although the Witch of the East meets an unfortunate demise early in the story, her presence and actions continue to shape the narrative. It is revealed that she had enchanted the silver slippers that Dorothy Gale accidentally inherits, granting her significant power and protection.
The Tick, Tick … Boom! actress has been candid in the past about her interest in the spirit world. In April, during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Hudgens told host Kelly Clarkson that she's had "a lot" of run-ins with spiritual beings over the years and said she's "accepted the fact that I see things and I hear things."
Variety reported that the film came about after Hudgens and Magree agreed to seek out proper mentorship and training in the art of witchcraft, of which the outlet notes the pair are self-taught students. Spoken in Basque and Castilian Spanish, the film hints at the suppression of regional culture and language during the Spanish Inquisition, but it is more concerned with the way women were treated.
It is revealed that she had enchanted the silver slippers that Dorothy Gale accidentally inherits, granting her significant power and protection. These magical slippers become a crucial motif throughout the story, helping Dorothy traverse the Land of Oz and eventually return home. While the Witch's enchantment may seem benevolent, it is worth noting that she had employed her magic in more dubious ways as well.
‘Coven Of Sisters’ On Netflix: Period Movie On Spain’s Witch Trials
Netflix's NFLX new Spanish film, Coven of Sisters (Akelarre), directed by Argentinian filmmaker Pablo Agüero, from a script written by Agüero and Katell Guillou, is a chilling tale inspired by the witch trials of the 17th century that killed thousands of women and men throughout Europe.
Set in the Basque Country in 1609, Coven of Sisters follows a group of women who are arrested after being accused of witchcraft. A judge, dispatched by the Spanish crown to travel through the country to persecute women they believe to be witches, puts the young women under trial to force them to confess they are witches. However, the young women find a way to postpone their execution as much as possible in the hope of escaping from this fate.
This is a historical film about the witch trials in the Basque country, viewed through a contemporary lens. Due to an immersive cinematographic style and great performances, Coven of Sisters is a captivating and atmospheric film.
Coven of Sisters starts with fire. The figure of a woman is burning, while two men look on. “How many more deaths” one asks, to which the other replies that he will not be satisfied until they have revealed the secrets of the Witches’ Sabbath to him. The original title of the film, “Akelarre,” is the Basque word for Witches’ Sabbath. As these opening images suggest, this is the story of a man with a deluded obsession. The man in question is an Inquisition cleric Rostegui, played by Álex Brendemühl. He wants to witness the Witches’ Sabbath, strongly believing its existence, and has gone on a killing spree to see it with his own eyes.
He arrives at a new seaside village, welcomed by the young local priest (Asier Oruesagasti), who despite having known all the villagers all his life, will never object to anything Rostegui will decide. Rostegui and his delegation of priests and soldiers enter the village just as the men of the community, all sailors, have set sail. The women are alone, defenseless against armed soldiers.
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Soldiers come to arrest five young women, weavers in the village who are all close friends. In the brief moment before the arrival of the soldiers, the film quickly reveals the personality of these young women. Ana, played by Amaia Aberasturi, has a rebellious nature with an over-zealous imagination, while Katalin, played by Garazi Urkola, is younger and naïve. Thrown into prison cells, stripped to their undergarments, the five women have no idea why they have been arrested. It is slowly revealed, after each is taken by soldiers to be interrogated, one by one, that because they were seen going into the forest together, they have been accused of being witches.
Understanding Rostegui’s obsession with the Witches’ Sabbath and his not-so-repressed sexual desires, Ana imagines a plan with her friends to tell him the stories he wants to hear, like Scheherazade in One Thousand and One Nights.
Spoken in Basque and Castilian Spanish, the film hints at the suppression of regional culture and language during the Spanish Inquisition, but it is more concerned with the way women were treated. It is women's liberty that the Inquisition wants to quash, hiding their free-flowing hair and forbidding dancing. Rostegui, in fact, describes the story of the dancing plague in Strasbourg of 1518, started by a woman he says, to prove that a woman dancing is the devil's work.
The story is of course told through the prism of today’s perspective, so some of what is said in the film resembles more today’s discourse, especially in the sequence where the old woman advises Ana on how to defeat Rostegui, when she is bathing her (which felt more like a gratuitous nude sequence). But there certainly was some women at the time who did the same as Ana and confessed to the absurd notion that they may be a witch in the hope of being spared, or sparing others. Men, under the guise of religion, killed thousands of women across Europe in the 16th and 17th century, accusing them of witchcraft.
Coven of Sisters is a compelling movie. It is filmed in a style that immerses viewers into the historical world it is depicting. The camera stays close to its subjects, conferring a proximity to the characters and the situation they find themselves in, and puts viewers at times literally in their shoes. One sequence, for example, shows the point of view of one of the young women as a sack is put over her face when she is guided, or rather pushed, into the prison cell. This closeness creates this feeling of immersion and captures the attention.
Coven of Sisters (Akelarre) is on Netflix since March 11.
"And my curiosity is endless," she added. "So there'll definitely be a lot more."
The Munchkins reveal that she had dominated and oppressed them during her rule, exemplifying the dictatorial nature that can arise from wielding magical powers. However, her death at the hands of Dorothy inadvertently liberates the Munchkins, who celebrate the demise of their oppressor. The role of the Witch of the East extends beyond her immediate presence in the narrative. It is her death and the subsequent arrival of Dorothy with the silver slippers that sets in motion the series of events that propel the story forward. Dorothy's arrival in the Munchkin Country and the involvement of the Good Witch of the North set her on the path to the Emerald City in search of the eponymous Wizard of Oz. The Witch of the East can be seen as a catalyst for the story, whose actions and demise set the adventure in motion. Despite her relatively brief appearance, her legacy and the magical slippers continue to guide Dorothy and her companions throughout their journey. It is through her enchantment and demise that the story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" unfolds, captivating readers of all ages for generations to come..
Reviews for "The Enchanter of Oz Witch of the East: A Symbol of Good or Evil?"
1. Sasha - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Enchanter of Oz: Witch of the East." The story felt disjointed and difficult to follow. The characters lacked depth and I had a hard time connecting with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was awkward and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read and struggled to finish it.
2. Liam - 1/5 stars - I found "The Enchanter of Oz: Witch of the East" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The writing lacked creativity and the characters were one-dimensional. It seemed like a poor attempt to cash in on the success of the original "Wizard of Oz" series, without adding anything new or interesting. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and imaginative read.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Enchanter of Oz: Witch of the East," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow and there were long stretches of unnecessary detail that did not contribute to the overall story. The dialogue was awkward and the characters were forgettable. I found myself losing interest halfway through and had to force myself to finish the book. Overall, a disappointing read that I would not recommend.
4. Ethan - 1/5 stars - "The Enchanter of Oz: Witch of the East" was a complete letdown. The writing was amateurish and lacked sophistication. The plot was weak and lacked any real substance. The characters were uninteresting and their motivations were unclear. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself skimming through the pages just to get it over with. I would not recommend this book to anyone.