As Disney Pixar's latest animated feature, "Coco" reminds us of the importance of family, preserving culture and how we should always celebrate our uniqueness.
"Coco" is based around Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead)— a Mexican national holiday that honors departed loved ones. Set in Mexico, the story follows a young Miguel in his pursuit of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz despite his family's ban on music. In a strange turn of events he finds himself in the Land of the Dead.
Apart from being another entertaining and well done Disney Pixar film, "Coco" carries a message that aims to resonate with Latinos during this politically turbulent time.
Gael Garcia Bernal, a Mexican actor who plays Ernesto de la Cruz, encourages Latinos in America to see "Coco" as a way to deal with the fear of rejection faced by them today. He says how he wants to dedicate the film to the young descendants living in the U.S, "because in this moment these kids are growing up with a lot of fear.” Furthermore, he wants to highlight how "this film, amongst many other traditions that we do every day in life, just shows there is no definition that anyone can put us into.”
Peruvian American actor Benjamin Bratt states how, “Coco celebrates our uniqueness, celebrates the fact that we’re a community of love and family ties, artistic expression, beautiful language, and wonderful traditions.”
Director Lee Unkrichtold and Adrian Molina have carefully curated the story of "Coco" over the past six years while doing extensive research in Mexico. Unkrich first was inspired to make "Coco" after visiting the Mexican pavilion at the Epcot Center in Disney World.
The power of music is a key theme throughout the film as well. While doing research, Anderson and Lee studied the work of neurologist Oliver Sacks and were inspired by his stories about how Alzheimer's patients "came back to life" while listening to music.
While "Coco" is a timely piece, Director Lee Unkrichtold and Adrian Molina emphasize its universal message as well, and the power of storytelling. As Unkrich states, "The film is very much about family, specifically the importance of remembering family and passing along stories to future generations so that people aren’t forgotten and lost to time.”
"Coco" comes out in theaters on November 21st!
