"Moana" is the movie of the season right now. Its Thanksgiving release date brought eager moviegoers in hordes to see the latest Disney film, with valuable representation to boot. I remember when the film was announced last year, I was elated to have a new animated Disney princess of color, with brown skin and her own heroic storyline. I was extra delighted at the casting of Auli’i Cravalho, who looked so much like the character she was voicing it was precious.
Once it came out, I was really encouraged to see the film because I was told by friends who’d seen it that it features a dynamic woman of color, with a rich cultural heritage that is poignantly displayed on screen. Naturally, I was ecstatic: representation is so important, and I’m always happy to support women of color being powerful and celebrated.
"Moana" exceeded my expectations. It was endearing and heartwarming, with touching messages of destiny and moving visuals. Moana’s brown skin was radiant, and her thick eyebrows and hair were stunning. The Polynesian culture offered reverent substance to the story. The music tugged at my heartstrings. However, I have just one gripe: The lack of a love interest for the heroine, Moana. Critics have applauded Disney for a “feminist” movie simply because they didn’t have romance as a priority for its latest Disney princess. I strongly disagree. Moana is a woman of color, the first Polynesian princess Disney has ever had, and it is important for women of color to be viewed as worthy of love and desire.
Women of color have been historically represented as token characters without love interests, and we often do not see women of color being romanced and adored in the media. It would have been much more revolutionary to give Moana a love interest than to not give her one. I think that it is essential, not only for young women of color to see themselves represented as heroines on screen, but to also see themselves as worthy to be wanted as an object of affection.
"Moana" told the pertinently essential story of a woman of color who can own her destiny and forge her own path regardless of the norms dictated to her by her family, and even the entire Island. She glowed with a thirst for adventure and uncharted territory, and her heart was firmly planted in her dream: to explore the seas and fulfill a cultural prophecy. She valiantly overcame her fears and saved her people. She’s a role model in every sense of the world, and having a love interest would not have taken away from that.
Moana could be radiantly beautiful, ebulliently resilient, and strikingly clever, all while finding love.
