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Has been ages since I blogged something in English. Decided to write about this movie which was streamed months before. This is one from my ever favorite movies collection! I watched it in Tamil and English; One of the few movies which both me and my kid loved!
Encanto revolves around the Madrigal family. Alma and Pedro Madrigal flee their place due some coup with their triplet babies and other villagers; Pedro gets killed in front of Alma after which she gets a magical candle which glows unceasingly. The candle blesses them with a self adjusting "smart" castle (Casita). Each Madrigal is then blessed with a magical gift, which they call a "miracle". This happens on their reaching a certain age; an event they call "gift ceremony".
Alma's daughters are Peppa and Julieta. The former's mood has influence on weather and the latter can cure any bodily ailment with a snack. Julieta has three daughters - Luisa, Isabella and Mirabelle. Peppa has 3 children - Dolores, Camillo and Antonio. Luisa is a physically strong woman, Isabella is the perfect, beautiful belle who can connect with plants and anything floral. Dolores can hear the faintest of sounds, Camillo can shape shift. Antonio is yet to receive his gift. Mirabelle was not granted any on her gift ceremony. Even then, she is all chirpy and happy; she's proud of and loves her family. All said, she has a longing for a miracle in the corner of her heart; Abeula is a bit haughty with Mirabelle but these don't make her a bitter person.
It is Antonio's gift ceremony. He asks Mirabelle to walk him to his door as they share a special bond; she is shown experiencing a melange of emotions. Antonio gets the gift of connecting with animals. When everyone rejoices in a festive mood, Mirabelle has vision of the Casita breaking and the magical candle going off. She decides to dig into this to protect her family and win Abeula's approval. This is just the plot, no spoilers!
Abeula is very protective of her family and actually overdoes it. Her fixation to the magic which guarded them after Pedro's demise blinds her of Mirabelle's struggle to win her approval. She outcasts Bruno for his visions and looks down upon Mirabelle. She treats them so since they are true to what they experience and do not confirm to the mold she wants them to fit in. Julieta is a warm, loving motherly figure who heals people. Her husband Augustin gets hurt frequently. Peppa is a neurotic woman with a flimsy temper while her husband Felix, a Teddy bear of a man, mellows her down patiently. Luisa is all brawn outside, timid inside. Isabella's beauty and perfection are burdens themselves. Dolores hears phenomenally but doesn't speak her mind. Camillo shapeshifts and is a child at heart. The sweet kiddo Antonio understands the unsaid words of animals. The movie ends when everyone establishes that the ungifted Mirabelle is a gift herself.
There are interesting equations between characters. First, the one between Mirabelle and Isabella. Mirabelle is messy haired, bespectacled and tomboyish while Isabella is smooth haired, beautiful and graceful. These two lock horns often. Later they come to good terms when Mirabelle realizes that Isabella wants "just to be" instead of being perfect. Second, between Bruno and Mirabelle. Mirabelle crosses the metaphorical barrier to reach him. Despite the entire family isolating Bruno, she promises to take him back to the family when everything settles down. Thirdly, the one between Antonio and Mirabelle. They are close pals sharing a room. She comforts him when he is freaked out before his ceremony and he recognizes her uncelebrated goodness by asking her walk him to his room at the ceremony. He follows her when she reaches out to Bruno and helps them out with his gift. This guy, the youngest, is shown a more mature person than Abeula who values her kith and kin by their gifts and their conformance to her standards. Lastly the desperation of Mirabelle to win Abeula's approval though she is hard with her. It is only at the point when Mirabelle loses it and accuses Abeula that she understands the flaw in her temperament. Interestingly, Abeula's younger self and Isabella look similar. Maybe an explanation to why she holds Isabella special.
We can relate to all characters at some point. We have all these characters within us. To me, this is a very special movie; one on acceptance - self and others, just letting people be and being there for each other. It is also about setting worldly "gifts" aside and respecting people for the persons they are.
If you are in a mood for cheerful colours, peppy music and a nice warm movie to watch with family, you know what to watch!
