My take on Coco

Rating: 9/10 (23 April 2018)

Lexie Zemann
4/18/18
Mr. Gross
In the movie Coco, family dynamics are very apparent and historically accurate. A movie that incorporates family dynamics successfully is one that can capture the characters' interactions perfectly, which adds to the overall message. Without family dynamics, films can be bland, and sometimes the viewers have a harder time connecting to the characters; however, when these dynamics are present, viewers can feel a part of not just the lives of the characters, but also to their cultures. Therefore, the film gets 4.5 stars because it incorporates many aspects that give the family and the Mexican culture depth, so that the people watching can really understand and relate to everything that is going on.
One aspect of this culture that Miguel has grown up in is the living accommodations; the elders of the family live all under one roof with him. This causes tension because Miguel is expected to honor his elders and his father by becoming a shoe maker. Unfortunately, his heart is elsewhere, namely his music. Another characteristic of the Mexican culture seen in the home is how Mexicans honor their dead. "Ofrendas are set up to remember and honor the memory of their ancestors. Before setting an altar, they thoroughly clean their house. We must remember they are going to have very important 'visitors'" (p. 1). These ofrendas give great depth to how family members interact with each other and with their neighbors, as most Mexican families observe this tradition.
Mr. Unkrich, the director of Coco, was raised just outside of Cleveland and had no experience with the celebration of "Dia de los Muertos". He wanted to be sure his movie was historically accurate, so he took several trips to Mexico and interviewed Latino actors and actresses in the film to get their personal stories, "which helped ground his fantasy realm with specific geographic and sociological roots" (p. 2). The results are shown through the popularity and success of the film.