Photo from wikimedia.org
Coco is a vibrant and culturally sensitive Disney-Pixar movie told from the perspective of a child, Miguel. It explores the traditions of Dia delos Muertos or the Day of the Dead, a child’s ambition in contrast to his family’s wishes and, as a Disney staple theme, unconditional love.
Miguel is a young Mexican boy born into a family of shoemakers. He wants to become a musician but his family is strongly against it because of a long history and grudge held against their great-great-grandfather. But Miguel secretly learns to play the guitar and even planned to perform during the town celebration of Dia delos Muertos.
On that day, Miguel fights with his family, steals his idol Ernesto de la Cruz’s guitar from his crypt, and somehow gets transported to the Land of the Dead. While trying to find out what happened to him, he accidentally meets with his deceased relatives and learns that his only ticket to return to the world of the living is an ancestor’s blessing. With his family’s no-music rule even in the afterlife, this blessing becomes ever elusive.
[Here comes the major spoiler] It has a happy ending. Were you surprised? No, not really (we know!), it’s Disney after all. While all is well in the end, Coco can be sad and dark at times. It might even hit a few emotional spots especially for those who have lost loved ones or are experiencing family struggles right now. Don’t be discouraged by that, though. It is a movie that explores the importance of family and has themes of perseverance, teamwork, forgiveness, and gratitude.
What Coco Teaches Us About Parenting
Let your kids explore, own, and master a thing they like. When we disregard our children’s likes and passions and instead dictate what they ought to do, we not only choose to ignore their interests, but discredit the talent they might have been given as well. This might create more complications as they grow up. Instead, let’s practice supporting our children, albeit with caution. Let’s support our children in their interests, guide and help them to reach their utmost potential. Show them that, as parents, you are there to give support whether emotional or financial, and guidance along the way. Your kids are still kids, and they need you, so be there.
[SPOILER] In the end, when Miguel was given freedom to pursue music, it was evident that he became a happier child and a lot more excited for the future. The freedom of no longer hiding his passion gave him the courage to explore, learn, and share his talent to a lot more people.
Let your children experience struggles. Much like how Miguel struggled to pursue and value a hard-earned blessing from his great-great-grandmother, your children must be exposed to stories that not everything in life would be easy-peasy. Even great heroes have to have battles and long journeys to find themselves.
It’s okay to let them fail at times. It’s okay to let them fall once in a while. It would groom their character to work even harder and smarter for a goal they believe in so much. Resilience, resourcefulness, and perseverance are important traits your children would clearly value as they grow up and face the world.
Let your children see the value of family. Coco is a children’s movie afterall and like the best Disney-Pixar movies, Coco is ultimately a story about the power of love and relationships and why families are so important.
Miguel’s family set-up is very relatable in Philippine culture– it’s large, extended (has a family pet), and everyone lives under one roof. They all have differences from which they argue, misunderstand each other, and fight over little things. Miguel’s grandmother would even chase him around for not following their rules. You’ll find yourself smiling while watching certain scenes because you recall what you had when you were younger. You then look around and see that your kids might be loving it too. While they are still young, it’s best that you show them the importance of family relationships– of understanding, forgiveness, and gratitude.
What Parents Need to Know
The movie contains skeletal imagery but nothing sort of disturbing. Indeed it talks about the Land of the Dead unassumingly as if it were a fairyland set in another dimension. With its colorful illustrations, most kids will probably love it almost immediately.
There’s a few life-or-death scenes in the movie as well but none of the major characters die, well at least those who aren’t already dead anyway. Some adult characters were also shown to be drinking shots or cocktails during a party but nothing that warrants a serious parental supervision. Still, be there when your young children watch it as they may ask questions here and there.
Coco is no longer in theaters but you may watch the trailer here in case you watch to purchase a copy of the movie.
Almira Manduriao does content marketing by profession, works with nonprofits and social enterprises to strengthen their cause, and advocates for the protection of women & children in the country. She travels to collect local paintings, eat whatever’s on the menu, and get lost in crowded train stations.
