We don’t talk about Bruno, no, no, no.. We don’t talk about Bruno..

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” just hit 1st place on the Billboard top 100 and according to the news, this is the only time a Disney OST had done so since 1993.

Apparently, everyone wants to talk about Bruno. Just in case, you don’t know him yet, Bruno is one of the characters in Disney’s “Encanto”. Encanto is, perhaps, the most popular animated movie released last year. The movie has well-done lively musical numbers and gorgeously vibrant animation.

However, a huge part of its appeal lies with the themes the movie tackled that hit too close to home. La Familia Madrigal is an extraordinary family but its issues as a family and the inner struggles some of its members are dealing with are universal. Our family is our strongest support system but, sometimes, the expectation they set on us can break us or lead us to a path of unhappiness.

To be honest, sometimes, they’re not the only ones with expectations. We, ourselves, also set expectations for ourselves. Our family’s matriarch or patriarch sheltered us, fed us, and showered us with love and adoration. Some of them shed blood, sweat, and tears just to raise us. We have to be worth all that, right?

Aside from that, nothing is sweeter than hearing Mom and Dad say these four words:

“You make me proud.”

Yet, as the movie presented, CONSTANTLY trying to live up to those expectations can be detrimental to an individual. Like their casita, the characters in Encanto are starting to break down.

Let’s explore just what they have to deal with.

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

BRUNO struggles to fit into the mold

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First, let’s talk about Bruno-no-no-no. (Sorry, the song is just too catchy!)

While everyone’s gifts helped the community, Bruno’s gift to see the future mostly causes worry especially if the vision is ominous. Some members of his family and the community even started blaming him for the misfortunes that he had foretold. He also started to believe he caused all those bad things to happen.

Instead of becoming a blessing, his gift felt more like a curse. Aside from that, Bruno has a weird personality that is often misunderstood as sinister. He mutters to himself and his friends are rats. As he was unable to do anything helpful, adding to that his eccentric personality, Bruno struggled to fit in with his family and in society.

However, as we later meet Bruno in his isolation, we learn that he loves his family just as much as any other Madrigal does. Aside from that, he longs to be a part of the family. He built his “hideout” beside the family’s dining room.

Bruno, however, was scared of being seen by Abuela as shown in one of the scenes. This implies that Bruno may have felt that he didn’t live up to Abuela’s expectations. He probably thought that he was a disappointment as he doesn’t add value to their town but causes trouble instead.

As he failed to belong, he left his family, isolated himself from everyone, and grew even lonelier.

Bruno reminded me of that introverted member of the family who has trouble making friends since their interests are not very popular. They are often misunderstood but all they need is to find a like-minded soul.

ISABELLA doesn’t want “Perfect” but something true to herself

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Compared to Bruno, Isabella knows how to fit in the mold. In fact, she aces it. She is beautiful and graceful. Her power, which was conjuring mostly flowers at the beginning, makes people happy. Everyone considers Isabella to be perfect. Well, aside from Mirabel.

Apparently, though, being “perfect” isn’t what Senorita Perfecta wants. Secretly, Isabella was unhappy with the path Abuela laid out for her. We learn later on that she doesn’t want to marry Mariano and that she wants to conjure other plants too, not only flowers.

Isabella wanted so much to make her family proud that she never pursued her own happiness. She only does what was expected of her.

She reminded me of kids who chose a degree that would lead to a lucrative job, instead of what they really wanted. I know some developed interest in their chosen fields eventually, but some constantly regret not following their dreams.

LUISA cracks under pressure

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Unlike Isabella, Luisa knows what she wants to do, however, she overdid it. Her role in the town is literally the most physically demanding yet she never says no to what anyone asks her.

Among the characters we meet, Luisa seems to be the most workaholic. When Mirabel tried to interrogate her, she barely had time to talk to her. She talked to Mirabel while doing a bunch of tasks the townsfolk asked her to do.

Luisa is also someone who wants to carry the burden all by herself. She’s not someone to ask for help as she sees it as a sign of weakness.

Give it to your sister, your sister's stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
Who am I if I can't carry it all?
If I falter
– Luisa, Surface Pressure (2021)

Later, we learn that the workload is getting too much for poor Luisa. However, she’s so afraid to get left behind that she won’t take a break.

Also, sadly, Luisa felt that her gift defined her. Without her gift, she thinks she is worthless.

To meet her family’s expectations and her expectations for herself, Luisa placed too much pressure on herself. Later in the movie, she literally broke down and lost her power.

Luisa’s inner struggles felt universal as it’s not only our families who push us to CONSTANTLY prove our worth. Today’s hyper growth-focused society dictates that we need to CONSTANTLY beat the competition and our past performances. If you fall one step behind, you might lose an investor, a client, or a follower.

This leads others to take overtime, work on weekends, and forgo their vacation leaves. But how many people are now suffering from burnout, insecurities, and depression just to keep up with the crowd?

** I highlighted the word CONSTANTLY in this article, as I do believe a bit of stress and pressure are beneficial for an individual. Too much is a poison, though.

A Mirabel is just what we need

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Mirabel is the only Madrigal child who didn’t receive a gift. Because of that, Abuela has very low expectations from her and often overlooks her. It was heartbreaking to watch her try to make Abuela notice her, only to disregard her efforts.

Without any power, Mirabel felt out of place from her family but that didn’t stop her from cheering them on. Through her, we find out what the other characters have been going through. She learns that she’s not the only one who feels “not good enough” for the extraordinary La Familia Madrigal.

Mirabel is nothing special but she got the other characters to open up and in consequence, she was able to comfort them. She literally gave a hug to the members of her family who needed it most.

Whereas Abuela made everyone feel just as special as their gifts, Mirabel was able to show her family that each of them is more than just their gift.

But Mirabel – and perhaps this is her magical power – sees in the rest of the family what they can’t see in themselves.
--- USA Today

Mirabel represents just what we need and have to be for the people we care about, a strong support system. She is reminiscent of that often overlooked member of the family who wasn’t very successful but who made it their mission to care for the family. They don’t always get to be in the spotlight, but behind the scenes, they glue the family together.

Mirabel reminded me of this character, if you've seen this movie:

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Even Abuela needed a Mirabel

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Abuela is the closest thing we have to a villain in this movie but she too gets a hug from sweet Mirabel. Scarred from losing her home once, she had become overprotective of what her family had gained, the family’s miracle. In doing so, she unintentionally placed too much pressure on the members of her family.

We all know Abuela wants the best for La Familia Madrigal but she wasn’t able to see what Mirabel saw: some of the members are suffering from the pressures of being a Madrigal.

In the end, Abuela realized what’s truly important for the family she fought hard to protect. It’s not the gifts they possess nor the miracle bestowed upon them, it was the overall well-being of its members.

That’s a wrap

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Altogether, Encanto is a well-crafted movie with a powerful message that is ripe for the time.

To be honest, I think this animated film is more of a must-watch for parents, carers, and educators than for kids.

The film surmises that the expectations we constantly set for children can potentially burn them out and make them unhappy. Instead of making them feel insecure, we should make children feel that they’re always good enough and that their achievements and talents don’t define them. Achievements and talents are just one part of a complex human being. There's so much more to them.

That’s all! Here’s to hoping you have a Mirabel in your family.

And if you do not have one, BE ONE..

Talk to your Brunos, Listen to your Isabelas, and Help out your Luisas.