Encanto: a story about family bonds and being true to yourself.
Encanto had a quiet release in movie theaters on November 24, 2021 but it exploded since the film landed on Disney+ in December 2021. It seems at every turn, someone somewhere is talking about this film. It is a film that my daughters and I lov. We have watched the movie many times and listened to the soundtrack almost daily. My oldest daughter and I have had deep discussions about the themes and motivations of each character. Whether it is the story or the music, Encanto has been on the minds and hearts of its audience. However, it is not without its critics. I will briefly discuss the synopsis of the story for those who have not yet seen Encanto, what I liked about the film and my response to the critics of this beautiful film.
Encanto is about the magical family Madrigal. Abuela Alma loses her husband Pedro while escaping the violence that erupted in their village. At the Cano Cristales River, nicknamed the Liquid Rainbow (Zapata, 2022), her candle becomes magical, keeping her and her infant children safe. Fifty years later, safely hidden in the mountains of Colombia, they live in a charmed village called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift. Every child except Mirabel. No one knows why she hadn’t received a gift and Mirabel grows up essentially on the outside looking in with her magical family. However, the night of her cousin Antonio’s gift ceremony, she sees cracks in their casita and the magical candles flame flickers out. She may be the only hope the family has as she sets out to discover why the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger.
From my first viewing, I fell in love with Encanto just as I fell in love with Coco (2017). First, Encanto is a beautiful story about family pressures and being true to yourself. Luisa, the sister with super strength, feels she must be stronger and stronger to handle all the family burdens. If she fails, the family fails. Isabela has to be perfect despite feeling she wants moments of imperfection. Mirabel helps her sisters see that they can be more than their gifts. Second, the music is outstanding. From lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton and In the Heights) and composer Germaine Franco (Coco), the music carries the emotional impact of the family and their struggles. My favorite song is Dos Oruguitas. Sung by Colombian star Sebastian Yatra, the song has a folk song vibe as it tells the story of two caterpillars who are holding on tightly to each other, afraid of the change that is coming. But as they turn into butterflies (mariposas), they learn to fly apart, reunite and look to the future. It’s a beautiful image and reminder that we all change and grew into the people we are meant to be but still be a family. Third, the symbolism seen throughout the film. The butterfly theme is seen throughout the film in obvious and subtle ways. Butterflies are symbolic with change. The yellow butterflies are specifically important to Colombia. It is a nod to magical realism and a nod to A Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombian Nobel laureate (Zapata. 2022). Most reviews have been very positive. Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press said, "It's only appropriate that Encanto—fueled by eight original songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda—turns into that most special thing of all: A triumph in every category: art, songs and heart." However, some have not been so positive. One complaint I have read in different reviews has been that the valley represented, Valle del Cocora, and the Cano Cristales River are more than 850 km away from each other. One reviewer states that the fictional village “that combines locations and elements so distant cheapens what the places are and what they represent” (Garzon, 2022). I understand this criticism because as someone who has lived in Southern California all her life, I have encountered many people who think I live near Los Angeles. While my homes have not been as far away as these two Colombian locations, they are far enough to say I am not from Los Angeles and have only visited a few times in my life. However, I understand that the studio probably wanted to highlight these two popular land features as representing the beauty of Colombia. Despite reviews that point out the simplified Disney version of Colombia, many have embraced the chance to see their culture and their families represented. Especially Afro-Latino, “a group that is even more underrepresented in media than non-Black Latinos” (Medina, 2022).
Overall, Encanto introduces the wider world to the beautiful country of Colombia and it’s diversity. Despite the criticisms of simplifying the dark history of the country, if one person is motivated to learn more about Colombia, it’s people and the troubles they face and are moved to help, then I say the movie has done a great deal for Colombia. The movie has motivated me to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s works. I have heard his name many times but have not read his books. However, now I will and I look forward to it. If you have not seen Encanto, I highly recommend it. It is a moving experience that highlights the beauty and tragedy of Colombia while speaking to the universal language of family bonds and being true to yourself.
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