The movies could most possibly be categorised into one of the three types:
a) Story that talks about what happened.
b) Story that reflect the current conditions in society.
c) Story of human imagination and possibilities of what future might look like.
Every decade would have movies that would fall in one the above categories. What triggered today's post was movie Maleficent. But before that a summary of what I noticed in movies Frozen and Tangled. Frozen was based on the story the Snow Queen and Tangled which was based on Rapunzel
Until the movie 'Frozen' Disney's Fairy Tale adaptations had always stuck to the 'True Love's Kiss' theory where a Prince must kiss the female lead in order to save the day / world. Disney's Frozen broke this trend when the Princess Elsa accidentally freezes her sister's heart only an act of true love can save Anna from turning to ice. The Prince that Anna thinks loves her dupes her and the kiss is not what saves the day. It was the act of sisterly love that Anna displays by saving Elsa when Prince Hans is about to kill her even as she is turning to ice. The other distinct change was that Elsa is made queen of her kingdom without having to get married and the 'Happily ever after' does not include marriage or a 'Price Charming'.
The previous movie Tangled took a slightly different take at the Rapunzel story. Though Rapunzel is locked in the tower it and has long hair it seems she is quiet independent and is confident of defending herself with her frying pan. She meets not a Prince but a charming thief who agrees to show her the world and in that journey she discovers who is really is. Toward the end Gothel (the villainess) kidnaps Rapunzel and brings her back to the tower. Flynn arrives to rescue Rapunzel only to be engaged in a fight with the witch but in the end its not the him but Rapunzel that saves his life and that too not by the much heard of True loves kiss but her tear that falls on him. So Rapunzel is not the damsel in distress but the Hero!
Brave was another movie where the Princess was an absolute rebel who did not want to get married just because it was the norm. She fought and even beat the suitors that were competing for her hand. If she hadn't been brave and had done just as she was told she would have just been a prize to the suitor that won all the rounds. That movie did not not have a prince or romantic angle and was more focussd on the mother daughter relationship and inspired to chase your dream.
The latest Disney movie that is a based on the story of Sleeping
Beauty. Growing up we all read the story of sleeping beauty and must
have watched the old Disney movie Sleeping Beauty I'm sure. Even though
there were changes to the original Sleeping Beauty story you would still love it if you keep an open mind. [spoiler alert]
Maleficent does curse the baby Aurora but then she is also the one
looking out for her as she grows up. Aurora calls Maleficent her Fairy
Godmother because she has feels Maleficent has been watching over her
since she was a baby. But the most striking change in the story is its
not Prince Philip's kiss that awakens Sleeping Beauty (it does not work
in the movie) but Maleficent motherly kiss that she places on the
sleeping Princess' forehead promising that she will not let anything
harm Aurora which brings her back to life.
The common theme in the retelling of the stories as I notice it is that:
1. With changing times may be we are all moving away from the idea of a Prince Charming / Knight in shining armour. The ladies can take care of themselves and can overcome barriers if they believe in themselves.
2. True love's kiss which is an idea of the romantic love is not the only thing that can save us but there are also other relationships in our life - our family that can do the same or even more to save us.
3. There seems to be an acceptance that a 'Happily Ever After' doesn't really need a marriage. It's not really marriage but LOVE that is needed to be happy.
All the above said I think the underlying message is that of 'Women Empowerment'. We hear about it at our Workplace, Business, Politics and I'm guessing Disney is doing their bit in changing mindsets. Its not about special treatment for women but encouraging and providing them with equal opportunities. In the old stoies women were just damsels in distress that had to be saved by strong men and that could be seen as conditioning of the minds to be the norm. But with changing times the stories are being re-told to usher new views.
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