'Encanto': Disney's portrayal of generational trauma and toxic families Disney's Encanto has become a social media hit not only because of its great animation, the vibrant scenery, the costumes, and the catchy songs but also because of how relatable the family story is. She serves as a site visitor for the American Psychological Associations Commission on Accreditation. It was then that the candle Alma held magically defended her and led her to their new village. Posted February 23, 2022 Furthermore, she witnesses the magical candle that powers everyone's gifts dimming. Politics is power over others. While the family believed he abandoned them, in reality he has been living in the walls of the Madrigals' house, withdrawing from life for fear of what his vision could mean both for Mirabel and himself. Nonetheless she still does everything requested of her because, as she says in the song,"I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service." Then, after he left, the role became Mirabel's. It's a funny line, but it also points to the fact that Mirabel has pushed her trauma into the shadows, and while this helps her maintain a sense of hope to some degree, it also prevents her from resolving her trauma. But in recent years, the shift has been to movies about love in a different form. At its core, "We Dont Talk About Bruno" is a sad attempt to justify tormenting those who dont fit the familys agenda of remaining the most influential in their village. Encanto family tree: Who are the members of the Madrigals? In Abuelas mind, Mirabel brought nothing but chaos and destruction to the family, and she made this known every time something went wrong. She lives on a fictitious island based on the Polynesians' island and culture. There are many rivers that flow into the reservoir of trauma. The ending Encanto offers is ideal, and that's what makes it much more emotional to watch. Unlike her mother, Julieta, who took the role of the healer herself due to her gift, when it comes to Luisa, its the family itself the one that put all that weight and responsibility on her. The movie brings up issues from perfectionism to family pressure, mental illness, estrangement, self-esteem, emotions, people-pleasing, generational trauma, boundaries, parenting, rejection, coping mechanisms and more. A great example is when Julieta and her ungifted husband, try to comfort Mirabel when Abuela shuns her; since shes also a pleaser she places herself as a neutral player, but these attitudes end up making her three daughters very insecure people unable to speak up their desires and wishes. "The Family Madrigal": What Is Intergenerational Trauma? Encanto: The Madrigal Family Tree Is Much Sadder Than You Realize We know her gift is being able to control the weather, but mainly this is linked to her emotions. How Disney represents other cultures - DW - 12/09/2021 Detailed explorations of some of Almas abuses can be found online (e.g. Now, besides the marvelous and fantastical bits of the story, what the movie is really about is how generational trauma is dealt with and how its transmitted within the family creating a toxic environment; thus why many of us felt so represented in the movie. Mirabel was headed down the . Pepa is one of the saddest characters of the entire film. He says jokes and always tries to break up the tension, mostly by shape-shifting. Encanto also offers a lesson in self-discovery as Mirabel finally realizes her true self and the fact that she doesn't need to fit a certain mold to be special. The film may send subtle message that abuse is not a serious matter. Encanto: 10 worst things abuela did to her family, ranked. The plot of Encanto revolves around 15-year-old Mirabel who, despite her empathetic and quirky personality, is a black sheep in her extraordinary family. While escaping theyre encountered by armed men, and in an attempt to save Alma and his newborn triplets, Pedro sacrifices himself. Sometimes it's from trauma. Karen Cilli is a fact-checker for Verywell Mind. No ones perfect, however, Abuela is determined to risk losing her grandkids to make sure that perfection is all that the Madrigal family is. Respect is an abstract concept that doesn't have much meaning for a young child. Antonio is the youngest of the Madrigal. At first, I was skeptical of watching Encanto, especially allowing my girls to watch the movie. Among her grandchildren, the trauma piled on in the form of Mirabel's lack of magic. Posted February 15, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan Key points Everyone is a member of. We Don't Talk About Bruno became Disney's most popular song in 26 years, beating Frozen's Let It Go. How Collective Trauma Impacts Your Health. The Madrigal family is dissected and explained in a fun and colorful way in the opening song of Encanto , "The Family Madrigal." Abuela has exceedingly high expectations of her descendants and their powers, is comfortable in the familiar and anything else unsettles her so much so that it causes her to lose sight of what her family truly needs. In essence, she was the reason for the familys decaying structure from the inside and outside. The Meaning Behind Encanto and Why It's Worthy To Watch . The voice cast is the most impressive by far, with actors Carolina Gaitan (Pepa Madrigal), Rhenzy Feliz (Camilo Madrigal), Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Antonio), Wilmer Valderrama (Agustin), and Mauro Castillo (Felix Madrigal). Is your impression correct? Having faced decrepitude and struggles, she has vowed not to let history repeat and thus set abnormally high expectations for her children and grandchildren. Encanto tackles issues of family, insecurity, and so many things that make it relatable to many of the people who have watched it. What Does Disney's Encanto Teach Us About Generational Trauma? Trauma has trickled down in every generation of Encanto's Madrigal family. While certainly geared towards younger kids (preschool and up), older kids, teens and even adults will find this Disney movie to be good. Lukens: An Enchanting Sunshine & Grump Romance, Scream VI: A Meta-Thriller Back to its Roots, I Will Find You Again And What It Means To Choose Success Or Happiness, Interview with Ken Liu, Author Of Silkpunk Epic Fantasy Series The Dandelion Dynasty, Hawkeye A Hilarious Adventure In Absurdity, Meet Me @ The Altar Show Strength in Pop-Punk Debut Album, Beyonce Snubbed Again: Antiquated Awards Shows Must Go, Ari Lennox chooses peace in latest album, age/sex/location, Syd Navigates Heartbreak on New Album Broken Hearts Club. That perfection she embodies makes it the character thats most pressured by the family to remain that way. Chronic abuse cannot be undone with a song. Disney's Encanto is one of the best animated movies released this year. You dont just stand up to the big bad, hug it out, sing a song and come out on the other side stronger or happier than ever. For example, in Encanto, Abuela Alma was traumatized when she was violently displaced from her home and lost her husband. Related: Encanto Review: Stunning Animation Rescues a Tiresome Soundtrack. As therapists, we love the normalizing of a less-than-perfect family. Everyone is a member of some family system that shapes who they become, how they perceive the world, and how they view themselves. Were told of this story first at the very beginning of the film when Mirabel is about to have her door ceremony and Abuela narrates the story of the family to her. This desperate need for things to go her way leads Abuela to say some terrible things to Mirabel. Ok, a lot obsessed. As a society, strong families can benefit communities. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. This can lead to a lot of conflicts. She wants to be strong for her family but, in the process, internalizes her emotions and demands perfection from her family members. It makes us long for such a day. Lam outlines four ways that people respond to trauma, whether it's intergenerational or another kind. At this first telling, in the flashback, we see a more serene Abuela as if she had learned to tell the story while concealing the real pain it provoked in her. Ana Peres is an aspiring screenwriter living in Brazil. She is the youngest daughter of Julieta and Agustn Madrigal and youngest sister of Isabela and Luisa, who has the distinction of being the only Madrigal by birth without a magical gift. As marriage and family therapist Janay Holland, PhD, MFT puts it "what happens to one person in the [family] system affects the whole system.". However, after learning that it would take place in Colombia and highlight the joys and tribulations of family systems, I knew I had to see it. Abuela is the matriarch in the Madrigal family tree and the woman of the house. (2022, February 2). Luisa is another character in the movie. Lets get through it. There are some obvious ones like Luisa, who is 'the strong one.' The lack of a gift hurts her relationship with Abuela Alma (Mara Cecilia Botero). As a. Lam emphasizes the value of a holistic approach to healing that can include cognitive therapy, self-compassion work, yoga, and mindfulness meditation. Often no amount of achievement brings the happiness people strive for. We also meet Isabela. Other lines in the song describe Bruno as a monster with a seven-foot frame, rats along his back and blame him for everything from the villagers own overeating to how his gifts left Abuela and the family fumbling," as if the familys inability to cope with reality was somehow Brunos responsibility. Bruno is not alone in feeling the wrath of mistreatment. There are three types of mental health stigma. Here's what I consider its five most important mental health lessons: 1. Young millennial Latinx viewers can relate to the sometimes painfulfamily dynamics of the Madrigals. I wish to extend a special thanks to Joshua Yadron for his insights on healthy parenting and his encouragement to write a piece challenging a popular opinion. Lin-Manuel Miranda also wrote the entire soundtrack for Moana. The best you can, thats what you do, and thats precisely what Maribel does! Encanto An Emotional Story Of Family, Community & Individuality Bruno's power is fortune-telling. We dont talk about Bruno. With the melodic rhythms and heartfelt lyrics, Lin-Manuel Miranda translated a tough story into songs that are impossible to stop listening to. Encanto movie review & film summary (2021) The Encanto story is about the Madrigals, a family that looks like many families around the world, but one that enchanted (pun intended) their way into viewers' homes and hearts. "They just need to see it. Shes the golden child, the one whos always impeccable to the eyes of the others. Camilos role in the film is that of comic relief, but it goes deeper than that. Here is what therapists are saying about the family dynamics presented in Encanto. Deep seated insecurities plague the Madrigal family. Encanto (from the verb encantarto love) is a movie that is resonating with many people. Bruno even predicted she would have the life of her dreams, unlike the rest of the family. Also, its the status of the perfect child that makes her part of the abusive pattern of the family, and this is seen in her relationship with Mirabel. For Bruno, being a burden to his family is not something he could handle, so he removed himself from the family, going into hiding in a secret part of the Madrigal house. But whats interesting about this vision is that everyone got negative predictions showing that Isabelas isnt as great as it seems at first. A more subtle one is Camilo, 'the distracter.' But even in the face of adversity, Maribel refuses to give in to despair. Now, besides the marvelous and fantastical bits of the story, what the movie is really about is how generational trauma is. Cast and Crew of 'Encanto'. He gets killed in front of her. One of the first ones was Moana, a story about a girl who dreams of adventure in the sea and has to go against her familys wishes (and traditions) to be her true self. For that reason, both Mirabel and Bruno have been pushed away. Encanto shows the Madrigal family tree in the opening of the movie, and the image is much sadder than viewers realize. The Problem with "Encanto" | Psychology Today A magic candle that raises walls and builds an astounding magical house. Reviewed by Gary Drevitch. Luisa is the character many of us connect with the most, especially those of us who are the eldest child. However, the weight of doing so much has resulted in her experiencing anxiety. Mirabel Madrigal | Disney Wiki After a traumatic loss during the Colombian civil war, the family receives a gift: everyone has powers. What Is the 'Triangle Method' Flirting Technique? Encantois a film that has made many fans laugh and cry since its release on Disney+ in November 2021. The Madrigal family of the Disney animated film Encanto lives in a beautiful hidden village in Colombia, where a miracle imbues members of the family with a magical giftfrom super-strength to the ability to heal to shapeshiftingthat they use to help their community. Unfortunately, real life is not as simple as a movie, and the path to healing, in reality, isn't quite as straightforward. 'Encanto': A tale of family and fitting in, set to music The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift every child except Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). Disney Encanto First Generation Immigrants Trauma The movie would have been much more powerful if the Madrigals embraced real change in rebuilding their identities and relationships without their powers and the social status they confer, and testing whether, in the long term, Alma could keep up her stated commitment to reform herself. By Julia Jacobs. Under the surface, "Encanto" is a celebration not of community, but of selfishness. She does everything, from moving buildings to lifting tons of donkeys, all this without hesitating nor questioning. Encanto then follows Mirabel on her journey towards saving her casita and family from impending doom. The young girl will soon learn that superpowers sometimes come in the form of more mundane things than super strength or the ability to make flowers bloom. Throughout familial history and movies, there has been this notion of the black sheep of the family. By Cynthia Vinney, PhD The richness of its diversity, its elevation of Latinx voices, and its record-breaking soundtrack rank among these virtues. Luisa will never be strong enough. Disney's Encanto: Who Are the Magical Family Members? Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Disney's Encanto: 5 Real Issues Discussed In The Movie - Screen Rant The film embodies everything needed for a successful animated picture these days and has only multiplied with the amazing musical numbers showcased in the film. Lets now see how this generational trauma forces the characters to take on a toxic role within the family. Those emotions continue to dwell in the family system, and it is her daughter, Pepa, who manifests them. But if only it were that easy in real life:to call out a stubborn grandmother, a homophobic uncle, a passive-aggressive mother, a problematic aunt, or a father who has never been held accountable for their actions.
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