![]() Left to her own devices, Merida would do as her father later jokes, AKA “stay single and ride on a horse at dawn, firing arrows while her hair blows wild in the wind.” Merida is much less interested in royal decorum than she is in scaling craggy cliffs and drinking from secret waterfalls, and she lacks neither the physical prowess or warrior’s confidence to do so. Indeed, as has been noted elsewhere, the mother-daughter relationship lies at the heart of this film. When a killer bear attacks the village, his point is unintentionally proven.Īfter the title sequence, we flash forward several years, and Merida has grown into a young woman who bristles at the micromanaging concerns of her mother. Fergus notes that his daughter clearly loves the gift and that anyone and everyone should be able to defend themselves. Elinor’s husband Fergus has given Merida a bow and arrow, a gift that Elinor does not believe is appropriate for a clan princess. At the opening of the film, for instance, we find young princess Merida playing hide and seek with her mother Elinor. This is not to say story doesn’t contain any of the trappings of the rote princess story. Fortunately, Brave is a much better film than any of the cookie-cutter examples with which it might be confused. It’s a set up which, in less capable hands, could result in yet another recycling of the Dreamworks’ “be true to yourself” mantra or Disney’s own set of princess-genre bromides. Superficially, at least: the protagonist Merida is an impetuous red-haired princess who feels shackled by tradition and tribal expectation. With Brave, the people that brought us the Toy Story trilogy– arguably the greatest film trilogy originally conceived as a story for the screen–have given us a movie that, at first glance, runs the risk of being confused with the work of a more simple-minded studio. Now in its 17th year of box office activity, Pixar may have entered into chronological adolescence, but the studio is far from becoming a brazen teenager who’s unaware of the past. Have a great Fourth and we’ll see you back here on Thursday: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” ( James 1:19).Just in time for Independence Day, a wonderful (if spoiler-heavy) review of Pixar’s latest from resident animation guru Jeremiah Lawson. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” ( Proverbs 1:5). They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck” ( Proverbs 1:8). “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. It also underlines the importance of respecting your parents and of listening to other people. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you and you will be comforted over Jerusalem” ( Isaiah 66:13). “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you” ( Isaiah 49:15). The Bible often uses a mother’s love as a reference point to show us how much God loves us. How do you show your parents that you love them? How do they show their love for you? Her mother takes Merida in her arms, essentially thanking her for helping them both change. Merida and Elinor remember at the end how much they love each other. Can that sometimes be a problem with your family or friends? Does it sometimes feel as if no one actually hears what you’re trying to say? Can you be guilty of not listening, too? When? One thing Merida and Elinor wish is that the other would listen better. ![]() ![]() Is there anything you’d like to change about your parents? Is there anything they might want to change about you? Are there times when you’d like your ability to relate to each other and talk to each other to change and get better? Merida asks a witch to change her mother. What sort of relationship do you have with your parents? Do the conflicts Merida and Elinor have look familiar? Can you understand Merida’s desire to find her own destiny and Elinor’s desire for Merida to be a responsible princess? Parents want to teach their kids responsibility and, by extension, make the sort of decisions they would make themselves. Most teens want the ability to make more of their own decisions. Merida and Elinor’s relationship isn’t that much different from how many moms and teenage daughters-and sons, for that matter-relate to each other. Most importantly, the two of them are reminded of a couple of important things: the importance of listening to each other and the fact that although they sometimes fight, they still love each other very much.
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