FEATURE| The Gifts of Dynamics—Disney's Encanto On Redefining Family Films

The Gifts of Dynamics—Disney's Encanto On Redefining Family Films

Hannah Angeli Mendoza, Neil Mark Galvez and Karrie Ann Langit

From watching the latest Disney film “Encanto”, so many expectations have been exceeded as we are able to sing and dance along to the movie’s soundtrack that truly allows us to further savor the colorful Colombian atmosphere through the lens of a staple in musical production songwriting, Lin-Manuel Miranda. And through the amazing work that he and many other talented people have put out behind the scenes, we, the general home viewers, somehow find ourselves in a therapeutic state of mind while watching the movie. So yes, let’s sit back and relax—we can talk about Bruno this time.

Almost an entire family having magical powers may seem too good to be true, but like any other family, they, too, go through so many challenges and just merely try their hardest to cover up their fragile interiors. This rift is causing the Casita (The house of the Madrigal Family) to lose its magic and crumble, and it would only take Mirabel, the only Madrigal without powers, to bring out the best in each member of her family and save the Casita.

This movie is well-enjoyed by a lot of people as it shares its good dose of relatability reflected in each character; but what did the students and counseling professionals of UPang think about it? We asked students from 1st to 4th year on which characters they could relate to, how similar their struggles were in comparison to their favorite character, and the advice that they could give their selected character on their most vulnerable moments. Furthermore, we also asked the school’s guidance counselor regarding their expertise on group and family dynamics.

Matthew Dela Cruz Muyano, 1-BSN

Joshua Vinteres, 2-BSED-EN

Carrying a responsibility requires a lot of physical and mental work. Sacrificing means having the stamina of enduring everything without complaints. And there is indeed no greater power than receiving a superhuman strength gift. Matthew Dela Cruz Muyano, 1-BSN, and Joshua Vinteres, 2-BSED-EN, shared the same sentiments with Luisa Madrigal. Aside from feeling a berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus, to them, being a lifter like Luisa equates to a tough role of being the eldest in their family.

Despite Luisa standing on the middle ground and lending a helping hand in their town's burdens, Luisa never forgets her role as the tough child. She always finds herself protecting her family, especially her youngest sister Mirabel — which both Joshua and Matthew resonate the most. Even at just a young age, Matthew always feels the pressure of being the bigger person. According to him, he has to support his brother and aid him in whatever endeavors he does. Joshua also feels the same weight. He emphasized his role being the eldest and a role model of his siblings and cousins.

Luisa had been conditioned to genuinely believe that she has a strong exterior, the barrier of the Madrigals — that complaints were never an option to say no to everything. And just like other people who internalize the feeling to overwork themselves in an attempt to retain their value as the primary resources, Joshua and Matthew expounded their thoughts more through the depths of Luisa's character. When the two asked how similar their struggles are, Matthew answered: “Very, very similar. You see, La Familia Madrigal is like your any other Hispanic and Asian family. There's always this something that's given to the eldest and the one they see the most potential in. I struggle to be strong and mighty all the time; like Luisa, at the same time I struggle to be this perfect, well-mannered, and studious person my parents and grandparents see in me.”

In addition, Joshua expressed his thoughts through one of his favorite Encanto's songs. And obviously, he mentioned Luisa's particular song, which he can relate to the most. According to him, “During the part of Luisa, singing Surface Pressure to voice her feelings out, she said if she could shake the crushing weight of expectations”, [Luisa expressed how it feels to have freedom even when under the surface that's crumbling]. Joshua also compared his situation to the latter, adding, “Because her family and the whole village expect her to be tough, brave, and strong — very similar to mine, there are times (as the eldest) that things are really bad, like financial crisis and family problems. And even though I'm [very] affected, I need to show to my siblings that everything's perfectly fine. As much as possible, I want them to know nothing so they won't get affected. Because I can do it, and that's how it is.”

Resonating to the major exposures of donkeys, classified as the “beasts of burden”, they are only used to carry and move things for people's convenience, which make Luisa as the whole town's beast of burden. The worst part of it, she was so attached to that role. Seeing Luisa as an allegory to Matthew and Joshua, Luisa's character features a very little mental and emotional strength to handle it all as well as the fact that she never allows herself to break from what people ask her every day. In spite of having the most pressure on their tough shoulders, Joshua and Matthew demonstrate selfless advice to their selected character on their most vulnerable moments. Matthew said, “I just have one thing to say: It's okay not to be okay. Vulnerabilities do not make them weak, it makes them human. It makes them feel alive. It makes and shapes them to be the person they aspire to be and not what others perceive them to be.” Joshua adds a simple, yet striking note: “To Luisa, it's actually fine to be weak at times. Because being strong sometimes becomes a mask that covers what we truly feel — and it's unhealthy; it destroys our sanity.”

Aside from Luisa as a relatable character that's a far cry from the typical Disney princesses, the two also express their adoration in recommending the movie Encanto to UPANG students. Joshua wants to tell you: “I want them all to see that life is constantly challenging everyone. And whatever happens, either good or bad, it's still part of the process of growing. The most important thing is that the decisions they make are not bound by what other people expect of them, especially their families.”

Matthew also gave an assurance that: “This movie is recommendable, really, regardless of age and whatnot. As for the UPANG students, I want them to reflect on this movie. If I somewhat found myself in this movie, I'm sure they'll find themselves, too. I want them to see how we all have this growing pressure — the strive to perfection, and the need to be better and different to be acknowledged. I want them to see themselves and how these characters strive to be themselves — much like how we should, too. I want them to see that validation does not come from others, it comes from ourselves. I want everyone that watched this movie to remember that we don't have to be the person everyone wants us to be. We just need to be ourselves, and I think that makes a person unique and content.”

Isabela (3rd year Angela Tamayo, BSED English Major)

Luisa (4th year, Recel Calaunan, BSED English Major)

1. Isabela (3rd year Angela Tamayo, BSED English Major)

If you were considered the one that had the most responsibility to keep a good image for the family and are told to behave in a certain way growing up, then Isabela Madrigal is someone you could relate to. Outside she is considered as the families Golden Child since she is favoured by Abuela a lot on the surface on the other hand she is the family member who was told to look and be perfect for most of her entire life. To her that meant growing nothing else but pink and purple flowers and nothing else, leaving her little room to explore the potential of her gift that is vibrant, bright and colourful.

To Angela Tamayo, 3rd year, BSED English Major, Isabela is a mirror image of her in the real world as she recalls: “My older relatives have always had high expectations toward me for maintaining a "perfect" image. The way I talk, act, and dress, my relatives would always have an opinion about it and they said I should look elegant at all times, especially now that I'm taking an Education course, I must look and act decent. I may be silent about it, and they may not say it directly, but I know that they wanted to. I've been like that since I was a kid, and they raised me that I should always aim for perfection in everything, considering that I'm the eldest grandchild on my mother's side, the pressure is always there.”

She always had a fear of failure to the point where she looks at her older relatives accomplishments looming on her shoulders. She said: “My grandmother would always tell us, her grandkids, what to do and how to act. If you do otherwise, they would look down on you and think like you're invisible, and will only focus on relatives who obeyed them and already succeeded in life. It's also a toxic Asian culture that has been going on for the past years or even decades. This does not only apply to my case, I'm sure a lot of people like me also experience the pressure that elders give to the younger generation.

When asked what she could say to Isabela during her most vulnerable moment, Angela would say something like this: “Isabela, I know you're always doing your best and even sacrificing your own happiness for the sake of perfection that your family wanted. It's okay to obey your family, but never forget to speak up for what can actually make you happy. If they truly are your family, they would appreciate you and accept you for what you want for the sake of your happiness.”

From a micro to a macro perspective, as a Upang Student juggling so many responsibilities and have while being the eldest in the family she said this to anyone who would be interested in watching the movie and might be going through a similar experience: “Always remember that your existence matters. No matter how tough the situation is, or if you feel like you don't fit in, remember that you are important and you have your own unique gift; you may not have discovered it, but soon enough, you will. Never let anyone dictate who you are as a person because you are the only person who knows yourself wholly.

2. Luisa (4th year, Recel Calaunan, BSED English Major)

If you see yourself as someone who always needs to wear a mask of strength in front of everyone to show that everything is fine while keeping your emotions locked in the closet, then Luisa Madrigal aka: the Middle child of the family could be someone you would relate to. She is basically the big and strong character in the movie whois so indestructible that she could move mountains with her bare hands. Yet outside the tough exterior lays a vulnerable little girl who just wants attention from her family even if she is treated as a slave by her own Abuela. This is the same feeling that Recel Calaunan, a 4th Year BSED Major in English has when watching the movie.

Recel sees a lot of herself in Luisa in so many ways while watching the movie, to the point where it feels like she is staring at a mirror image of herself while struggling internally. While she isn’t carrying actual weights, she carries so much responsibilities by being smart, talented in singing, a great artist and a good sister, and daughter to her family. While showing the world what she is capable of based on her talents, she is hurting on the inside because she needs someone to talk to. She then continues: “Growing up as an achiever, society has always seen me as the "strong and bright" and never the weak and vulnerable one. And with how the society has always seen me, I feel pressured by the fact that if I fail, I'll disappoint everyone around me.” This could destroy a child’s self-esteem, and enforces the idea that if they ask for help, they are considered weak which isn’t true at all.

The way that she explains how similar her struggles within the family are with the Madrigal family are so poignant and beautiful. In the song “All of you” Mirabel sing “The stars don’t shine they burn, and the constellations shift, I think it’s time you learn, your more than just your gift.” Which is so true and relatable for so many families especially during the pandemic.She adds: “misunderstandings cannot be avoided. And in every "shift", I'm happy to say that we also find ways to strengthen the foundation of our casita (our family).”

Luisa strikes as the person who would keep any family member at harms way and carry their burdens and let herself carry the load to keep them safe. This even extends to the towns folk within the Encanto. To her if she fails she would beat herself and call herself a looser which is so hurtful to even hear. When asked what you could say to your chosen character in their most vulnerable moment this is what she said: “I'd tell her that she doesn't always have to live up to the expectations of people around her. Whether she fails at times or she becomes weak and vulnerable, her family, and even the society, will still accept her and love her for who she is.

There are these moments that we feel down because of the numerous school works we have, difficult lessons and subjects we need to pass. And sometimes these cause us to look down on ourselves and refer to ourselves as incapable, weak and not at all skilled, intelligent, nor talented. Watching the film, I'd like UPang students to also see themselves more than what they lack. I want my fellow flames to consider themselves a miracle--one who's special in their own unique ways.

Proceeding with interviewing Janessa Ramiscal, the school’s guidance counselor, having confirmed that she was unfamiliar with the film, the synopsis of the film was first briefly explained before proceeding with the interview.

How similar or how different were family pressures explained in the movie plot compared to the situation na minsa'y nararanasan rin ng mga Pinoy?

With how similar or how different the film had depicted family dynamics compared to Filipino culture, the concept of “Family Constellation” was introduced. “For Firstborn Children, sila ‘yung may mga intensified feeling of power and superiority, high anxiety. Firstborns occupy a unique position tapos nagkakaroon sila ng feelings of dethronement kapag pinanganak yung kasunod nila—kasi nga diba ‘yung attention at first nasa kanila lang. If they have developed a self-centered style of life magkakaroon siya ng hostility and resentment towards the new baby.” Ramiscal begins.

‘Yung mga second child naman ‘yung personality nila is shaped by their perception sa attitude ng firstborn. The second child may become highly competitive or easily discouraged. ‘Yung youngest children naman are the most pampered ones, they consequently run the risk of being the problem children. They are likely to have strong feelings of inferiority and have a lack of independence. They are realistically ambitious. Kapag sa mga only child naman, sila yung mga socially mature. Mero’n silang exaggerated feelings of superiority and an inflated self-concept. Mero’n din silang pampered style of life. According sa isang theory, early recollections are always consistent with peoples’ present style of life; and that their subjective account of these experiences yields clues both for their final goal and present style of life.”

“Si Mirabel parang nag-susuffer siya sa isang neglected style of life—nagkaroon siya ng maladjustment. Feeling unloved and unwanted can create a neglected style of life. Nagkaroon siya ng little confidence and tended to overestimate ‘yung difficulties connected with life’s major problems. Nagkaroon siya ng feelings of inferiority kaya parang nag-compensate siya by setting a goal of personal superiority. ‘Yung mga pressures sa life, ‘yun ‘yung sine-set nating mga Filipino to strive for success.” she points out.

Asking about how often Miss Ramiscal would get students with family problems in a regular workday, she explains, “Madalas na na-e-encounter ko ay mga financial problems, na isa sa mga dahilan kaya nag-wi-withdraw ‘yung mga students. Minsan din depression, sexual harassment; not so common ‘yung family pressure. Siguro ‘yung ibang students ‘di na nila gustong malaman ‘yung family pressures nila kasi they know na kaya nilang i-overcome ‘yung pressure na ‘yun by striving to become a better person. Striving for success is healthy as long as alam nila na it's for the benefit of themselves and for others. Kapag tungkol naman striving for personal gain, parang ‘yun yung compensation nila for feelings of inferiority or ‘yung mga weaknesses nila. Depende ‘yun sa situation kung bakit nila na-fe-feel na pressured sila.”

Along the course of the interview, it was remembered that traditional Filipinos would oftentimes disown family members for their wrongdoings or unsatisfactory actions, as Abuela and the rest of the Madrigal family did towards the foreshadowing Bruno.

“It's actually hard na may “patakwil portion” sa family.” Miss Ramiscal quips. “Ang kailangan nila is family counseling para ma-identify ‘yung pinagmulan ng problema. Sa family counseling, each member of the family will undergo counseling then mag-uusap-usap silang lahat on how to resolve the issues. It could be behavioral, financial, bereavement—basta issues na involved ang family. Marami kasing approach sa psychotherapy, depende ‘yun sa kung anong situation mag-fi-fit ‘yung therapy techniques. If involved ang family members, in-e-encourage ‘yung family members to undergo counseling therapy.”

‘Yung sa “takwil culture”, based from observations kasi, mas vina-value ng most Filipino conservative parents ‘yung honor and integrity nila na nakikita ng tao. That's why mas pinipili nilang itakwil ‘yung nagbibigay ng "disgrace" sa family so as to preserve ‘yung "face value" ng family.”

“Enhance courage,” she goes on to advise people with inferiority complexes such as Mirabel. “lessen your feelings of inferiority; and i-e-encourage ko siya to have social interest. Everybody can accomplish everything except when faced with certain limitations. What matters is what you do with what you have. It should be more on boosting the self-esteem and courage, and also ‘yung social interest. Kasi mostly, ‘yung mga may feelings of inferiority, ‘yung energy nila is directed sa mga sarili lang nila.

Remember, without feelings of inferiority, people will not strive for success . Wala namang pinanganak na perfect. Kaya ‘yung mga pressures na ‘yan, normal ‘yan, but it's up to you on how you will handle the pressures.

Kasi mero’n tayong kanya-kanyang “gift” or creative power—’yung control natin sa life natin kasi at the end of the day, tayo ang mag-de-design ng life that we want to live. ‘Yun ‘yung striving force natin towards our life’s direction.

Graphics by: Jasmine Bernadette R. Bembo