Day of the Dead Representation in Coco

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2018)

The Disney movie, Coco, portrays a well-rounded, authentic view of the Mexican culture and one of its most important holidays, Day of the Dead. Although the representation is not 100% accurate, it gives the viewers a basic understanding of what a traditional Day of the Dead celebration would look like. For people who aren't familiar with the holiday Day of the Dead, it is said, "During Dia de Los Muertos, families gather to celebrate life while they honor the dead, sweep graves, build special altars to honor the newly dead, and place items such as flowers, cakes, and soda next to photos of loved ones in their homes. Graveyards become the place for large parties with fruit punch and concerts." ("Mexico: Holidays" 1). Coco shows the focal point of the Day of the Dead with people creating, altars, called "ofrendas", with pictures that remember the lives of the loved ones that have passed. Through the eyes of the main character, Miguel, the viewers get a glimpse of a family celebrating the lives of those who have died. In the movie, it shows the family building a huge ofrenda that takes up the whole room and consists of their loved ones' images, similar to the altars that families create in real life on this holiday. Those who do not have that vitally important image on the ofrenda are not able to visit with their families. Through the Land of the Dead, it is shown that the spirits only exist beyond the grave as long as someone living remembers them. The spirits, portrayed as skeletons in the movie, cross from the Land of the Dead over to the Land of the Living on this special day and reunite with the living at the village cemetery. This shows a glimpse of the significance of the holiday, a day to remember those who have passed. Furthermore, the setting of the movie belongs in a city in rural Mexico, a place where this holiday is celebrated by many. Part of Day of the Dead is spent in the graveyard. Within the film, the graveyards are covered in bright orange flowers, foods, and more. It is like a fiesta for everyone to join in. The gathering in the graveyards shows the place of celebration for Day of the Dead. Coco shows the celebrations and fiestas that take place during this holiday. Although Coco does a good job of showing the celebrations and traditions of Day of the Dead, it did not include the different days this holiday is broken up into. This holiday takes place over the course of 3 days, starting October 31 and ending on November 2. This is further explained, "From noon on October 31 until noon on November 1, the spirits of infants and young children who have died-called difuntos chiquitos-are said to return. The spirits of adults who have died are believed to return from noon on November 1 until the evening of November 2. This day is often called Day of the Faithful Dead." (Griffin 218). Coco shows Miguel's journey through the Land of the Dead; however, it does not specifically distinguish the three days and what occurs on each of those days. Coco shows the viewer a good representation of what the holiday Day of the Dead is like and its importance in Mexican culture, but it could have shown the different days that make up the holiday. By doing so, the viewer would get a thorough understanding of the holiday as a whole. Nevertheless, even without including the three different days, Coco still gave the viewer a good authentic perspective of an example of what a Day of the Dead celebration could look like.