Therapist Reacts to ENCANTO

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I'm surprised they didn't specifically talk about Luisa's line: "I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service." because that's the one that always hits me the most in terms of what it says about her in such a concise manner.

Fun fact: The crew had to fight for Luisa to be a large muscular woman because they thought no one would like a buff woman and they merchandized the heck out of Isabela because they thought she'd be the favorite of little girls but actually Luisa ended up being much more popular with girls

A little late to the game, but something I noticed about Isabelle is that yes, flowers and being pretty are her thing, and everyone's talked about the superficial part of her where she's just decoration, but one of the things I just realized is - flowers are accessible they don't fight back when you pick them, cactuses and carnivorous plants aren't. She literally has to deal with people passing her around and handing her off, and essentially doing things to her and her life often without her consent to the point that her whole song was about wanting control of her own life and autonomy. I don't think her personality is prickly at all - and that she's probably really sweet and kind and may really love flowers, but is so tired of people grabbing at her the only way she could see out was to grow thorns.

the scene that hurt me the most in this movie is the picture scene where they say the whole family and they don't even recognize that Mirabel wasn't in it. that would've been my villain arc, she was WAY too strong. something i also don't get is how the townspeople and the Madrigals were so angry at Bruno for using HIS gift when they asked for it. his gift was to predict the future, not cause it!

"think of the family!" "i was thinking of my daughter" i LOVE the father bc he's the only one who stands up to Abuela. the relationships this movie subtly lets on is impressive

when I realized the black shawl Abuela wears through a lot of the movie is a mourning shawl, she never stopped suffering that loss

When Abuela lost her husband... They animated such a desperate face on her. I had never seen such a thing. bursted out crying just with her face.

“Surface pressure” is the first song in a Disney movie ever that completely got me. Nailed it. Lin Manuel really understands the burdens and psyche of working / work-horse women in families such as these. Everything about this song is me.

The fact that Abuela actually says the words “I am so sorry” not once, but twice, meant SO much to me. I would often be told to apologize, but I rarely, if ever, received one.

This movie did something incredible and real by not having an antagonist. The characters were real. Their struggles were real.

So, my take on Mirebel’s lack of a gift is that she is the gift She brought the family together, she let all the tension and stress be released, she got people to get their issues off their chest She saved the family, and helped everyone in the family Abuela was worried about the big picture, the family, the miracle, the casita Mirebel saw the forrest for the trees, and by doing so, saves the forest

As a companion La Casita seems to be more fond of Mirabel than the others. It seems like it understands the gift Mirabel was given was freedom from expectations by her family. That gives her the perspective that ultimately saves the family

I really like when he says "Her past doesn't justify her actions but it makes them understandable and that makes it easier to forgive"

“A broken family is a family in which any member must break herself into pieces to fit in. A whole family is one in which each member can bring her full self to the table knowing that she will always be both held and free.” ― Glennon Doyle. I always think of this quote whenever I watch this movie.

Finally someone else who agreed with Abuela. She wasn’t an outright villain who didn’t care about or love her family. She is deeply flawed from her lack of perspective and not healing from her trauma. She ended up with responsibilities that could have been shared with others. She did things she shouldn’t have and rightfully should have been called out for it. And yet She is human, terribly so. I think it was put best: “It wasn’t justified but it was easier to understand and therefore to forgive.”

You know.... They say that Mirabelle didn't get a gift but she's literally seeing the inside of the people she connects to. She's seeing all of Luisa's fears, she's seeing Isabella for who she is, she LITERALLY saw Abuella's past. She's experiencing who these people are and not just via a connection or anything. She's seeing what's causing their pain. She's EXPERIENCING IT while helping them.

The running joke about Mirabel's power is that her power is to get a Hispanic matriarch to not only admit they were wrong but ALSO apologize. You will squeeze a diamond from coal much more easily than getting an apology from a Hispanic parent or grandparent let alone an admittance of being wrong.

My favorite subtle detail in this movie is the difference in Abuela's weeping between the opening exposition and when she tells Mirabel her story. The first time, it's rather gentle "pretty crying," but the second time she is full on sobbing and screaming in pain. It shows the difference between a child's understanding taking a story at face value, and a mature person seeing and empathizing with someone else's tragedy

The fact that Encanto was the reason my mom saw my mental illnesses and decided to talk about them with me with a therapist is crazy. Growing up with a physically disabled brother, a diabetic grandma with a sweet addiction, a widowed working mom, and the scars my dad left behind from his death is tough, in the end I stepped up, I did it for us but also because no one else could, I had no other choice. Me and so many others had their childhoods ripped away from us so we could step up and take so many responsibilities. To all the kids carrying their families on their shoulders, I know you need a break but you’re not in a position to take one, I wanted to say that I hear you. Your voice is valid, you are not as strong as you want to be. Don’t have unrealistically high expectations for yourself, even if others have them for you. Hang in there, even if you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, I promise you it’s there, you just need to walk and turn a little longer. If no one else notices, I at least believe in you.