I love this!!! I loved your breakdown of how the movie/story of Moana honors Moana’s inner voice and her desire to be part of her community. It’s refreshing. Coco is another movie that seems to set up a conflict between self and family but then resolves it in a way that brings more wholeness to the community and the self. ❤️🩹 And I love that last line: I am Moana! I can hear it in my head 🥲😭
Oh goodness, Coco! I loved that movie (but Moana still wins for me), but another amazing example of self/family/community conflict and based on Mexican people and traditions — it was so good, too! (Plus I think that view of the dead and the afterlife is so cool…there’s something to that!)
Yes to Coco! I saw both of these movies in a theater in Cambodia, and it was so special. They both felt way more Cambodian than American. So refreshing.
I am so used to stories where characters have to choose between their true self and their community’s needs or expectations and it was such a pleasant surprise that Coco didn’t do that!
I love Moana! Need to watch it again. As a writer/storyteller, I especially love how it doesn't follow some of the conventions of Western story structure. For example, at Moana's low moment when she's just been defeated and Maui has abandoned her, she understandably feels like giving up. But when her grandmother's spirit shows up to encourage her, she doesn't give her a pep talk like in a lot of stories - "get back out there, you can do it, just believe in yourself." Instead her grandmother says "I never should have pushed you so much. If you want to just go home now, I support you in that." It's *so* unlike most stories and gives Moana full agency to make her own decision to go back and face Te Ka, instead of being sort of "bullied" back into it. I've drawn so much writing inspiration just from that moment 🥹
Oooh that’s such a good point about what the grandmother says! And I love that you’re bringing your writing knowledge to the discussion 🤓 That is a beautiful turn of plot and I also love the idea that Moana can really make that choice apart from pressure by others!
I have so much to say about this. I watched Moana for the first time in a movie theater in Cambodia and the thing that made me so emotional was that it was the first Disney movie that felt more Cambodian to me than American. (actually, Coco was—I saw that in a Cambodian theater too) The culture, the family, the beautiful brown-skinned people, the coconut trees, the baskets, etc etc etc. I bought the movie when it came out and tried to find a way to do an outdoor viewing for kids with a projector but never could. :(
I haven't watched it in a few years and all of this beautiful stuff you wrote about it has more than convinced me that I'm overdue. Will rewatch it super soon.
Also, YES to the myths. (I write poems about this) Also, I could just sit here all day and talk about this movie and your commentary but I have to get to work (boo capitalism, etc etc)
Thanks, Marla!! That’s awesome you got to watch this and Coco in Cambodia, and I love that they both felt more Cambodian than American 💛
Ooh poems about myths; I gotta read through your stuff again! (And I preordered whole but hopefully I can make some time to read at least some of the advance copy!)
Moana is my favorite Disney animated film for all these reasons!! I couldn't help but compare it to The Little Mermaid. It has so much more nuance and values community in a way TLM doesn't. I can't think of a better movie that demonstrates how honoring your inner voice actually benefits the world around you, instead of putting those two things at odds with each other. As much as I adore romance, the platonic relationships are the best thing about this film. Ok, one of the best. I love how you compare it to both dominant American culture and white evangelicalism. Dang it, now I need to rewatch the movie!!
That’s a good comparison! Also I haven’t watched the new Little Mermaid yet — have you? And does it have any new twists that add nuance and community, I wonder?
What more is there to say?! "She does not deny herself but becomes most fully herself, and in doing so, it’s exactly what not only her island, but Maui (the demigod) and Te Fiti (the goddess who creates life) need as well." Isn't that a perfect example of the healthiest and most fulfilled life? Thanks for the uplifting analysis, Christine!
Even though I love princess & the frog (the music!) and the messages of the Frozen movies (sister love thawing a frozen heart, and listening to the magical voice inside) Moana will still always be my favorite. We actually watched it last night!!
Also, my latest posting on xianbrainstretch.substack.com, Toward a Faithful Criticism, demolishes the Adam and Eve myth in a way that is respectful and godly, something I can get behind wholehearted. Have you read it?
Absolutely the best Disney movie. I tear up every time I hear “And the call isn’t out there at all, it’s inside me” for the exact reasons you mention. As evangelicals we weren’t taught to listen to our own voices. And the end where she sings to Te Fiti, “You know who you are” 🥹
I love this!!! I loved your breakdown of how the movie/story of Moana honors Moana’s inner voice and her desire to be part of her community. It’s refreshing. Coco is another movie that seems to set up a conflict between self and family but then resolves it in a way that brings more wholeness to the community and the self. ❤️🩹 And I love that last line: I am Moana! I can hear it in my head 🥲😭
Oh goodness, Coco! I loved that movie (but Moana still wins for me), but another amazing example of self/family/community conflict and based on Mexican people and traditions — it was so good, too! (Plus I think that view of the dead and the afterlife is so cool…there’s something to that!)
Yes to Coco! I saw both of these movies in a theater in Cambodia, and it was so special. They both felt way more Cambodian than American. So refreshing.
I am so used to stories where characters have to choose between their true self and their community’s needs or expectations and it was such a pleasant surprise that Coco didn’t do that!
I love Moana! Need to watch it again. As a writer/storyteller, I especially love how it doesn't follow some of the conventions of Western story structure. For example, at Moana's low moment when she's just been defeated and Maui has abandoned her, she understandably feels like giving up. But when her grandmother's spirit shows up to encourage her, she doesn't give her a pep talk like in a lot of stories - "get back out there, you can do it, just believe in yourself." Instead her grandmother says "I never should have pushed you so much. If you want to just go home now, I support you in that." It's *so* unlike most stories and gives Moana full agency to make her own decision to go back and face Te Ka, instead of being sort of "bullied" back into it. I've drawn so much writing inspiration just from that moment 🥹
Oooh that’s such a good point about what the grandmother says! And I love that you’re bringing your writing knowledge to the discussion 🤓 That is a beautiful turn of plot and I also love the idea that Moana can really make that choice apart from pressure by others!
that scene where her grandmother appears always makes me ugly cry. How many of us need to hear from our elders, "I'm sorry I put that on you"?
I have so much to say about this. I watched Moana for the first time in a movie theater in Cambodia and the thing that made me so emotional was that it was the first Disney movie that felt more Cambodian to me than American. (actually, Coco was—I saw that in a Cambodian theater too) The culture, the family, the beautiful brown-skinned people, the coconut trees, the baskets, etc etc etc. I bought the movie when it came out and tried to find a way to do an outdoor viewing for kids with a projector but never could. :(
I haven't watched it in a few years and all of this beautiful stuff you wrote about it has more than convinced me that I'm overdue. Will rewatch it super soon.
Also, YES to the myths. (I write poems about this) Also, I could just sit here all day and talk about this movie and your commentary but I have to get to work (boo capitalism, etc etc)
GREAT STUFF HERE, FRIEND.
Thanks, Marla!! That’s awesome you got to watch this and Coco in Cambodia, and I love that they both felt more Cambodian than American 💛
Ooh poems about myths; I gotta read through your stuff again! (And I preordered whole but hopefully I can make some time to read at least some of the advance copy!)
Thank you, friend! One of my kids sat down and read it in less than an hour so it goes pretty quick. 😊
Moana is my favorite Disney animated film for all these reasons!! I couldn't help but compare it to The Little Mermaid. It has so much more nuance and values community in a way TLM doesn't. I can't think of a better movie that demonstrates how honoring your inner voice actually benefits the world around you, instead of putting those two things at odds with each other. As much as I adore romance, the platonic relationships are the best thing about this film. Ok, one of the best. I love how you compare it to both dominant American culture and white evangelicalism. Dang it, now I need to rewatch the movie!!
That’s a good comparison! Also I haven’t watched the new Little Mermaid yet — have you? And does it have any new twists that add nuance and community, I wonder?
I’ve thought the same things!! When this came out I thought - this is MY kids little mermaid!! The songs, the ocean, the messaging. I love it so much.
What more is there to say?! "She does not deny herself but becomes most fully herself, and in doing so, it’s exactly what not only her island, but Maui (the demigod) and Te Fiti (the goddess who creates life) need as well." Isn't that a perfect example of the healthiest and most fulfilled life? Thanks for the uplifting analysis, Christine!
Even though I love princess & the frog (the music!) and the messages of the Frozen movies (sister love thawing a frozen heart, and listening to the magical voice inside) Moana will still always be my favorite. We actually watched it last night!!
I mean there have been some good Disney movies lately! Way better than the simple princess narratives from the Disney of our childhoods!
I love this, and I love Moana! I also really appreciated your note about myths---so freeing.
I love your comment "Your own voice is not to be trusted in evangelicalism." That is so exactly right.
Also, my latest posting on xianbrainstretch.substack.com, Toward a Faithful Criticism, demolishes the Adam and Eve myth in a way that is respectful and godly, something I can get behind wholehearted. Have you read it?
I didn’t read all the way through yet, but now that I know the topic, I’ll take another look!
And yes about not trusting your own voice in evangelicalism!
It's all based on "do not lean on your own understanding."
Absolutely the best Disney movie. I tear up every time I hear “And the call isn’t out there at all, it’s inside me” for the exact reasons you mention. As evangelicals we weren’t taught to listen to our own voices. And the end where she sings to Te Fiti, “You know who you are” 🥹
YES!!! Both of those lines! 😭❤️