“Encanto”: Finding the magic inside us

Do you ever feel like you don’t belong to a family or in this world where everyone else is talented in the things they do? Maybe that’s how most of us feel about ourselves. And that’s why Disney’s animated movie, “Encanto” lets us know that we all are perfect in our own ways. We all have our own magic which makes us unique.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (“Zootopia”) and co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (”Raya and the Last Dragon”), “Encanto” was released on 24 November 2021. “Encanto” is a Colombian magical realist tale about the Madrigal family and their house named ‘Casita’. Casita is alive and made of magic. It talks by moving its tiles, window shutters and helping the things in the house to keep in order.

In addition, Casita also has a tradition. When each Madrigal comes of age, they are gifted a magical ability and a door to a grand bedroom that matches that of their newfound magic. This tradition started when the grandmother Abuela (María Cecilia Botero) and her family fled the violence of their village, survived a tragedy, and in their worst moment possible they found a miracle; a candle that never burns out. The whole village highly respects Mirabel’s family, because they choose to use their magic for the good of the community.

Abuela
Disney

Everyone in this family has their own unique powers like the ability to listen to everything and talk to animals. Abuela’s daughter Julieta (Angie Cepeda) has the power of healing others with her cooking while her second daughter Pepa (Carolina Gaitan) can control the weather with her emotions. Bruno (John Leguizamo), who can foresee the future has left the family after a terrible prediction. Julieta has three daughters, the perfect Isabela (Diane Guerrero) who can control plants especially flowers, the super-strong Luisa (Jessica Darrow), who can lift the heaviest of objects with ease, and then there’s Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who despite not getting a gift, is sensitive, warm-hearted and wishes the best for her family.

Mirabel

“Encanto” focuses on the only family member who wasn’t granted an ability by Casita. Mirabel desperately wants to prove she can support her family and community just as well as they can but it’s tough for her to stand out. On the day her little cousin, Antonio (Ravi-Cabot Conyers) receives his gift of the ability to talk to animals, Mirabel notices cracks in the house and the magic candle flickering. Her lack of power seems to suggest that the family's enchantment is fading, so Mirabel decides to try investigating the source of this decline and see if it can be fixed. She suddenly finds herself wrapped in the mystery of the future of her family’s magic. Maribel goes on a search for her prodigal uncle Bruno who exiled himself from the family after his precognitive visions were disclosed. Now, Mirabel's quest is to find the truth and save Casita along with her loving family.

Mirabel's quest is to find the truth

Not only is “Encanto” a great movie about a family but also a movie full of simple yet moving life lessons. With the help of Luisa, "Encanto" teaches us that we can’t shoulder everything on our own. Luisa has a whole song named “Surface Pressure” about how much pressure she’s under. She’s trying her best to protect her family and feels like she would be worthless if she can’t be of service. However, you don’t always have to be a problem solver, and you don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to admit you’re struggling too. When you’re struggling, you’re allowed to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone. Isabela also tells us that you are never going to be perfect enough for certain people.

Bruno

While Isabela is a girl who never even had a bad hair day, was ready to do everything just to make Abuela happy but it was only making her miserable. But we should stop caring so much about others’ opinions because they shouldn’t be the ones shaping our life. What makes you happy might not be what your family members or society wants. That’s why to think of what will make you happy and do your own thing.

And lastly, from Mirabel, we learn that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone else. Mirabel sings about how she can’t move mountains or heal what’s broken. She wants a miracle to show her the direction her path should take and give her life meaning. However, she’s already special but she has trouble seeing them because she keeps comparing herself to others.

“Encanto” notched the No. 1 spot on domestic box office charts

Without any new releases to pose a threat, Disney’s animated musical fable “Encanto” notched the No. 1 spot on domestic box office charts. By COVID-19 standards, “Encanto” is faring well at the box office by collecting about $222.6 million. “Encanto” song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' also surprisingly passed 'Let It Go' as the highest-charting Disney animated hit in 26 years.

Just like Pixar’s “Coco” paid tribute to the Mexican culture, “Encanto” holds many nods to its Colombian roots, from the use of flowers and animals specific to the regions to crafting songs that incorporated their respective countries’ musical palette. It pays homage to that magical realist masterwork with its story of a multi-generational family blessed by wonderful enchantments. Most notably, there’s no villain in this Disney movie, just a nebulous “unknown” threatening the family and their home. The conflict is minimal at best, which allows for Mirabel to spend more time learning about what she can do despite her lack of powers. “Encanto” also resists having its magical characters fall into the trope of the model immigrants that they have only earned their place because of their special abilities.

The Madrigal family members belong even when they’re not conjuring roses or transforming the weather. This is a story about displaced people who build a home from nothing. Their history is the source of their magic, and they use that magic to selflessly improve their community, without needing to assimilate into it. Given our nation’s track record on these subjects, to see such a tale in a children’s movie is quietly extraordinary.

Antonio

‘Encanto” is a surprisingly small-scale yet unique story. Instead of on a journey, the action unfolds in and around the Madrigal home because “Encanto” is most interested in the love and struggles of family, without silly side characters or romantic leads.Unlike many of Disney’s animated protagonists, Mirabel not only has two living parents but is surrounded by an expansive extended family. It is fun to see a Disney heroine with cousins. Mirabel’s lack of magical abilities also sets her apart from other Disney heroines where protagonists possess either special gifts or skills that distinguish them from other characters. And it’s most unique point is that, it’s a Disney adventure that never leaves the house.

The voice-over cast of Encanto
Alberto E. Rodriguez

Overall, “Encanto” is a must watch movie not only for children but also for adults.

* Rumaiysa M Rahman is a 10th grader at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Dhaka