My family comes from “La Isla del Encanto”, so naturally when Disney released a film entitled “Encanto”, we were all intrigued. “La Isla del Encanto” translated means “The Island of Enchantment” and was formerly known as Borinken but to most, called Puerto Rico. This film however wasn’t about Puerto Rico but was about a beautiful Colombian family and the legacy of their strong matriarch and fallen patriarch.
While we have different ethnic heritages, there were lots of commonalities I witnessed between our two cultures. I also caught some interesting connections to today’s social climate.
Many Latinx cultures are matriarchal in their homes for a variety of historical reasons. Some women, like Abuela Alma in this film, lost their husbands in war and chose to lead forward through the colonization that pushed them out of their homes. They did anything and everything to protect their children and preserve their family legacy. Sounds like many refugee women today.
Some other cultures highly honor the women in their society simply because they are the ones through whom life comes. Others still, take a more religious perspective, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus in her role and therefore all women.
As a Christian in the United States, I am well aware that there are lots of people who think matriarchal societies disrespect or dishonor men, but that’s not at all what they are about. These communities love their papi’s and abuelos who provide for, protect, and care for their families. Even in the movie, we see the picture of Abuelo Pedro in the stairwell and the desire for each member of their family to honor his legacy. In my experience, matriarchal societies deeply respect both women and men.
Something else especially interesting to me about this familia was their deep love for one another and yet their inability to communicate. Latinx families are known to be tight-knit and while there is plenty of truth to that, that’s not the entire story. I love my family very much and will do nearly anything for them, but we don’t talk nearly enough about what really matters.
Many Latinx families are large with plenty of cousins amongst whom one can get lost, hence the opening song in “Encanto” that introduces each member of the family. Still, we don’t see the family communicating clearly and honestly until the last part of the film.
It seems to me that while this family holds a value of community, they are operating in their individual gifts and each feels responsible for keeping the milagro that once saved their family alive. At the beginning of the film, Abuela says “the miracle” created for them an encanto in which they had a casita. I wonder if the miraculous burning candle represents the hope they received from the fight their Abuelo died in, protecting their future. Then to protect what he died for, each member has to do their part, almost working hard to hold on to what was always a gift in the first place.
When I look at migrants and 1st and 2nd generation U.S. citizens, I see a similar story. Our parents and grandparents worked SO hard to get us to this place of safety, and opportunities (an encanto), that the least we can do is honor their name by making them proud. When I was a little girl, I remember my papi telling me on the first day of school to behave myself because I represent the Morales name and we want to make sure that those around us know that the Morales people are hard-working, kind, and smart.
Often, we want to make our families proud because it’s another way to assert our dignity. We deserve to have a home, love, and respect and we will do whatever it takes to make our family proud. Sometimes, however, we can overwhelm ourselves with such a heavy burden, forgetting to support and rely on each other and forgetting that our dignity comes from God and isn’t dependent on those around us.
The Italian root of the word “Madrigal”, which is the family last name comes from “matrix” which means “womb” and comes from “maternal”. Interestingly, the last name “Madrigal” in English is a part-song for many voices without instruments. One and many… sounds familiar. The matriarchal family has lost sight of who they are expressing their gifts for, each other. As the movie progresses, each family member reveals they feel the responsibility to be the one to hold the family / the casita / the dream together.
It’s got me thinking when and where do I think my gifts are needed for the salvation of others? Like Abuela Alma, how do I feel responsible for protecting my family legacy and dream? Who have I talked to about this pressure I feel to hold it down like Luisa, or to be perfect like Isabela, or to hide the secrets like Dolores? Like cousin Camilo, how might I be conforming to the image of those around me instead of being who I’ve been created to be? How am I like Mirabel, ready to listen to and care for my family? In what ways might I be acting independently for the sake of my community and how can I change that so that I better honor my Father in heaven and represent his family well?
TabbysTab 