Ahh, el Encanto. What makes it so special? Well, in English it translates to “charm,” though it can also mean “spell.” Although a spell is more commonly called “un hechizo” in Spanish. Another catch is that the verb “encantar” means “to love” or “to enchant.” Sounds fitting for this movie, right? If you’re learning Spanish, have learned Spanish, or if your native language is Spanish, you know what I’m talking about. Though even if not, you’re still in for a charm. I started off with a mini Spanish lesson, but that’s because I love showcasing my knowledge. And it’s because of my knowledge that I would like to elaborate everything “right” with Encanto through this post. And let me tell you, ¡me encanta Encanto! I love Encanto! Though before I begin explaining, let’s talk about el resumen de película, the movie’s synopsis.
What is Encanto? Encanto is a movie that takes place in Colombia. It revolves around the Madrigal family and their adventures as superhumans. Alma Madrigal serves as the family matriarch and lost her husband while moving away from home. Though with just one candle, her and her three infant children (Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno) saw the Encanto come to life. Since then, the family has grown and become notable in town for their superpowers. All three of Alma’s children gained a “gift” (a superpower), and nearly all of her grandchildren have a gift. Although the only grandchild (and family member) that does not have one is Mirabel. She struggles to find her place in the family due to her lack of a superpower. However, she sets out to prove that she’s still part of the family and not inferior to them just because she’s ungifted.
Now…
What’s right?
The diversity of the characters: Let’s take a moment to give an ode to the skin color diversity. Throughout the movie, you see the main and background characters with different skin tones. This is shown with the three younger children Mirabel sings too. The implicit thought in my mind was, “Oooh how cool!” I also appreciate how Mirabel’s sister Isabela had darker skin despite both parents being light-skinned. Genes are complex, so that outcome is not impossible, as for being light-skinned despite having dark-skinned parents. Although the representation is not 100% flawless (more attention should’ve been given to the dark skinned characters Antonio and Felix), Encanto has done A LOT better in skin color representation than 90% of Hollywood media. And Mirabel with glasses… ¡Qué linda! We don’t see protagonists with glasses all the time, much less Disney characters.
The superpowers really spur imagination: Just think. What superpower would you choose if given the option? For me, it would be to understand every language in the world. Though I won’t lie. Some superpowers seem more like curses than “gifts.” I mean, would you want your emotions to control the weather like Pepa or be able to hear literally everything like Dolores? Would you even want to tell the future like Bruno and have people hate you for it? When you think about it, some superpowers can ruin relationships and force you to know things you’d rather stay ignorant about.
Though it’s through those superpowers that imagination thrives. Imagine being around a magical flower girl like Isabela or a hospitable chef like Julieta, whose food can silence negative feelings. Wouldn’t it be nice? Shoot, wouldn’t it be nice if you could lift anything heavy? Well, maybe Luisa would beg to differ. But I definitely need muscles, so being able to lift 500-pound weights with ease is a dream.
Thriving off an original plot while showcasing a different culture: When it comes to Latino representation in Hollywood, it’s rather monolithic. Most of the time, Mexican culture is placed as the main (or sole) culture among Latinos, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. What I appreciate about the film is that Lin-Manuel Miranda and the film’s team traveled around Colombia to learn more about its elements, society, and traditions before production. Fun fact, the movie is based on a literary genre called magic realism, which Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez pioneered. Thus, there are a lot of connections that the movie creatively makes to Colombia.
Even so, I would like to share an article that gives criticism about the representation. This is from a Colombian writer named Camilo Garzón, and I think his criticism is valid given that Disney perpetrates a lot of cultural commodification (seen through movies such as Pocahontas, Moana, and Coco). I recommend reading it for more insight. Though from my personal perspective, the reason I’m praising Encanto for its “original plot” is because this isn’t the type of movie you see everyday. I think it’s a way to start showcasing different Latino cultures other than Mexican culture and start the conversation about what Colombian culture is, especially given how there’s the “single story” of cartels and drugs. It’s time to stop acting like that’s all there is to Colombia.
Perfect balance of music and dialogue: To be honest, I am not a fan of musicals. Too much singing as part of the plot makes the flow seem unnatural in my opinion. For Encanto, there’s music as part of the plot but it’s not an overkill. It’s a reasonable balance. Of course, I like music. A good soundtrack makes a movie more memorable, but I also like a natural flow to movies, primarily focusing on the dialogue, actions, and overall plot execution. Encanto effectively blends in music with the dialogue and plot, especially with the songs like “Surface Pressure” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” With natural transitions into music that suit the mood, that adds to the movie’s charisma.
Appropriate movie for kids: While there are a handful of suspenseful scenes, this is a cute movie for kids to enjoy while also having a glance at another culture. More kids should be exposed to Colombian culture and other world cultures in general. While the elements showcased are not all there is to Colombian culture, it’s a more positive portrayal of Colombia than a bunch of Hollyweird (ahem, Hollywood) movies. There are narratives Hollywood pushes that contribute to implicit bias, and kids see them at a young age. As kids can cipher different identities (and even use them to bully, unfortunately), the impact of stereotypes on young children is significant. Showcasing positive, nuanced stories about different identities is a goal that Hollywood should have, and they shouldn’t always be rooted in identity struggles either. Encanto has a little bit of ethnic trauma, but let’s not act like one movie solves all representation problems. The main audience is young children, and for what it’s worth, it does its job showcasing lighthearted aspects of Colombia while having some nuance.
Final Verdict: This movie excited me just because of the promotional pictures. Seeing the title alone made me aware that I was in for a charm. It didn’t disappoint. Encanto was a thrilling movie with a captivating plot and thrilling moments that made the movie unforgettable. The music blends in with the movie and adds staying power. It is definitely a movie to show to future generations because of how compelling it is. It leaves little to the imagination while also feeding the imagination. That’s always a positive of visual media. When you are inspired by a work of art, even implicitly, it’s a beautiful thing. Obviously you don’t plagiarize, but if you use that inspiration to stimulate your imagination, it can make you a very talented creator.
Let’s also not forget that representation cannot and should not end with Encanto. Hopefully through this film, Disney (and the rest of Hollywood for that matter) will begin to create nuanced stories for BIPOC characters. And on top of that, create nuanced stories that don’t all have to deal with racial/ethnic trauma and hire BIPOC storytellers, filmmakers, producers, directors, and other creatives. When actors of marginalized identities nab the same types of roles White actors get that don’t center around trauma based on those marginalized identities, that will be a marker of progress. And when there are a variety of skin colors showcased on the big screen with those roles, that’s a marker of even more progress. Either way, it’s something to not just advocate for, but work on for decades to come.
Before concluding this review, I would like to recommend an article from Latino Rebels called “What Latino Health Research Says About ‘Encanto.'” The writer, William D. Lopez, is a Public Health professor and Latino Studies faculty associate at the University of Michigan. His article explains how Encanto relates to real-world issues of family relationships and mental health, particularly focusing on Latinos. Although, it can relate to families of all races and ethnicities. There are lessons we can learn from movies, and Dr. Lopez beautifully proves that this is the case with Encanto. Check it out here.