I’m shocked, shocked to learn that so many gringos are legit confused about how Pepa can be white when her parents are brown, like they can’t comprehend it and think adoption is the only possible option (adoption in the times of a civil war from last century,the only logical option of course/s).
It’s obvious that both Alma and Pedro have at least one white parent/grandparent and Pepa was the only one who got the white trait in the genetic lottery
Did none of y’all learn about Mendel and his peas in school? What the fuck
this head matriarch of the madrigal family survived a violent attack on her hometown and did it while carrying THREE babies. she raised those three children all on her own after she was tragically widowed.
she used the magic of the casita and the gifts of her children to help their surrounding community. and also when confronted about the trauma she passed on to her family, she admitted and apologized. you know what that is? growth.
when presented with all the facts, it’s undeniable that alma madrigal is a BADASS ABUELA.
When Mirabel introduces her family and the first “We don’t talk about Bruno” appeared, I laughed.
Waiting on a miracle hits. Just. Hits.
When we see the amount of pressure Luisa puts on herself, man she really needs a hug. Yay, Mirabel gives it to her!
Bruno’s room is just stairs. Lmao. JUST STAIRS. And then a cave. Like talk about recluse.
WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BRUNO. Lol Pepa, you really went, we don’t talk about him BUT
Also Pepa is so cute, I can’t. And Pepa and Felix are relationship goals.
Dolores, I did not know you could rap so beautifully. I am now a fan.
Camillo, HAHAHAHAHA. That was hilarious.
The villagers’ prophecies though, made me think that it was going to happen regardless of Bruno’s knowledge. Hmmm.
Of course, Isabela gets the perfect prophecy.
Oh no, Dolores. It’s okay. Don’t get that hung up on a boy.
BRUNO’S LAST VISION. OH.
HAHA DOLORES. Everyone just whispering it to each other and straight up losing control as soon as they find out.
Oh no, abuela, no.
Oh rat man. Wait, rat man is BRUNO. Huh. LOL YOU ARE VERY SWEATY. Man straight up saw his niece for the first time since his disappearance and went BYE. What a mood.
The plate. No, Bruno, no. That is so so so sad. Someone let this man go home. Oh wait. That is eerily similar to Hector Rivera. Awwww.
Bruno’s reasons for leaving. Just. That.
Mirabel’s expression at being told to hug Isabela HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Mirabel singing Bring it in, bring it in as Isabela. Just. Casually. Dances. Away.
And good on you, Isabela, for realising that you don’t have to be so perfect. Golden Child syndrome is real.
Mirabel and Isabela’s hug <3
Oh no Abuela, go away.
CASITA IS BREAKING. RUN.
Mirabel, leave the candle and run!!
Dos Oruguitas. Ugly crying. Man, we knew the story this whole time, but actually seeing the real reactions to the situation faced just hits hard. Abuela was so young and she had to actually WATCH it happen. Literally watching her cry out in grief, holding her THREE CHILDREN. And even when the miracle saves them, she is not actually happy. She is relieved, that her children are safe, but she is not happy. Her mindset of wanting the miracle to live on because she wants to keep everyone safe. Abuela, you went about it in the wrong way, but your heart was in the right place. I paused and rewatched this scene multiple times.
BRUNO AND ABUELA <3
BRUNO AND PEPA AND JULIETTA <3 (Pepa and Julietta literally LIFTING Bruno in the air for a hug. Lmao, this makes it look like he is the youngest of the three)
Lmao Pepa was sweating before her wedding and Bruno tried to crack a joke and failed miserably – the funniest explanation possible.
Huh, I genuinely did not see Mariano and Dolores happening. But okay.
The doorknob <3
And that, is Encanto. I absolutely loved it. Bruno’s plate and Dos Oruguitas hit hard. They really do. I have been listening to Dos Oruguitas on repeat since I watched.
Looked up the translation, and. ORUGUITAS ARE CATERPILLARS??? MARIPOSAS ARE BUTTERFLIES???? But actually reading the translation led me to realise that it fits with the scene. They have to separate, to move on, to build a future. Something Abuela has yet to do.
The more I think about this movie, the clearer it gets to me that the reason I love it so much is not only because it is about family, but mostly because it is about transmission.
When you actively try to bring a family together, especially when many generations interact like it is the case here, what to you have to do ?
Communicate. Share. Heal.
A lot of the healing in Encanto is done through words, but they also have the ability to create full-on musical numbers to showcase their emotions / memories. I think a part of it is real because y’know, magic and everything, but it’s also a poetic visual way to show what everyone is feeling. Not only is it more entertaining and involving as an audience but it serves a real purpose in the story : what you can see when you truly listen to what everyone has to say. Words and songs matter, but small gestures do too…
I know I’m being cryptic and I’m not answering your question so far, I’m getting to it…
I made a post to highlight the visual parallels between Bruno and his father, noticing parallels is my jam, so here’s another one I already mentioned in another post but want to elaborate on : the way they are holding each others hands as a comforting gesture… I like to think that it comes from Pedro and Alma’s relationship and was unconsciously transmitted through the family.
See, Pedro and Alma used to hold each other’s hands a lot. She does this with Bruno when he is nervous about his reunion with the family… I think this little affection display is not something new to them, she probably used it to comfort her children and show her love. So, without even thinking about it, Bruno used it to comfort his niece. And she, in turn, used it with her grandma.
See ? Transmission. And it’s all coming from Pedro.
Transmission plays a huge role in Encanto : the transmission of the family trauma as well as the transmission of love.
We don’t know much about Pedro’s personality… We can tell from the Dos Oruguitas scene that he was caring, comforting, had a lot of humor and most importantly that he was deeply selfless and family-oriented. Many people in this family felt like they had to sacrifice themselves for everyone else, but Bruno and Mirabel are probably the ones who are the most like him. Hence their particular relationship with Alma…
Everyone in this family is avoiding open conflict. But not Mirabel. Mirabel is the first to stand up to her grandmother, not with agressive intentions, but by embracing her own vulnerability and defending others.
The stakes were different, but her grandfather walking hands up to people armed with machetes reminds me of that…
The courage to take a stand can move mountains. And that’s exactly what Mirabel did.
That’s why, like the songs hinted to, she is the miraclethat Alma asked Pedro for.
That realization that Alma’s flashback to the river is portrayed differently between when she’s telling the story at the start of the film and when she apologizes to Mirabel.
Not just because the latter recollection goes in more detail. But in how you see Alma react to Pedro’s death.
In the first flashback she’s sad, but it’s subdued. A cry cute version if you will.
In the second though, you can see how viscerally distraught she was (not to mention the miracle manifesting in itself is a lot more violent in how it wipes out the raiders).
Compare and contrast:
Which demonstrates how Alma had essentially bottled up and sanitized her own trauma most of her life.
Her telling the story in full to Mirabel at the end wasn’t just an explanation for why she was the way she way and did the things she did (without excusing herself); it was to finally air out her own wound, which was essential for not only allowing her to properly grieve, but to begin healing that generational trauma.
