The one thing more important than immortal and family (Disney Coco discussion)
Coco is an anime movie created by Disney and published in 2017. The main story happened in the background “the Land of the Dead” — a place for people who died in the real world but memorized by at least one living man. The movie centers around being remembered, family relationships, and one’s aspirations, and the story is told well.
But in my opinion, the most significant and most moving thing — selflessness, was paid little attention to in the movie. As a result, audiences may be attracted by the story and burst into tears. But when they go home and try to deal with their family relationships, people will find the movie plot is Utopian, with little value of inspiration.
In this article, I will discuss the limitations of considering “being remembered” or family relationships as the greatest goal in life, and discuss the brilliance of selflessness.
Being remembered is desirable, but not great
“The Land of the Dead” is one of the most impressive settings in Coco. We can regard it as the “interlayer” between the living world and the world after death — it connects to the living world through memorials of living men. If someone’s photo is kept in the living world, he can visit the living world on “Day of the Dead”.
This setting conveys an opinion: There are two times of death. Once physically and once being unremembered. It seems to provide a way to immortal: Strive to be remembered by more people.
However, being immortal in people’s memory shouldn’t be something we work for. Whether one can live in other’s memory is, and should be totally depended on others. If someone attempt to live in people’s memory, he is more likely wicked than good, as destructing is always easier than contributing. In the movie, Imelda prohibited any music in the family to blame her musician husband’s loss. According to Imelda’s inner world, memorial has become a punishment for every family member, including herself. Just try to imagine: What would happen if Miguel accepted Imelda’s first blessing “put up their photo and never play music again”? It would be a lifelong regret for Miguel, and Miguel may never forget Imelda — never forgive what she did.
In ancient Rome, there was a strict punishment through condemning memory — damnatio memoriae. Other’s memory had become a powerful weapon that emperors in ancient Rome were afraid of. Many emperors chose to be controlled by Senate to avoid this punishment and to keep their portraits.
No matter whether physically immortal or being immortal in people’s memory should be a pursuit of life because both of them are selfish desires. It will make you concentrate on the side of greed and ignore the beauty of life.
“Ends meet family relationship ” is not a great goal
In Coco, all of the problems and misunderstandings have been solved within 1 day. It shows the beauty of art, but it can hardly happen in the real world. In fact, conflicts, doubts, and misunderstandings always appear in families and are likely to last a long time.
Communication may work, but cannot deal with all of the problems. It’s impossible to let others clearly understand everything you think. And if so, different people have different values and opinions about the same thing. In family or other kinds of relationships, contributions don’t always match the rewards.
Requiring “ends meet family relationship” has nothing wrong. It’s normal to solely for the praise in return of contribution. Meanwhile, requiring “ends meet family relationship” has nothing great. It is just a trade. As Imelda’s second blessing to Miguel “go home and never forget how much your family loves you”. It does moving in the film plot, but when I calm down and think, it is still a trade in my opinion. Love is shown by one’s behavior, not requirements. Did Miguel really get over his suffering in the past, or it is a burden for him to keep this promise?
“Ends meet family relationship” is acceptable, and just no more than acceptable. It is neither wrong, nor great.
The greatest pursuit of life — Selflessness
Coco has already exposed the greatest personality in one’s life. We can easily find it as long as we compare Imelda’s three blessings to Miguel.
First blessing: Go home, put up our photo and never play music again.
Second blessing: Go home, and never forget how much your family loves you.
Third blessing: You have our blessing, no conditions.
The less Imelda asks for, the greater Imelda becomes. When Imelda asks for nothing to bless, the climax of the film appears, and what attracts audiences most is Imelda’s selflessness, not the family relationship (the family status between Imelda and Miguel has never changed during the film) or being remembered.
From my perspective, Imelda should not affect the decisions of living people. It’s easy to see her motives are selfish and wrong in her first blessing. Her second blessing was not abrupt, but more like a trade while her mistakes had made bad influences on Miguel. Her third blessing was completely selfless and matched my expectation of a great elder in a family.
Being remembered is no more than a personal desire. But if we keep selfless, being remembered means contributions to others and being infected by many impressive smiles. Family relationship is no more than an inexorable result chosen by God or unknown beings. But if we keep selfless, family means a harbor of our heart and encourages us to be optimistic and energetic.
I believe more happiness will be gained if one keeps being selfless. I also believe the world will respond to the contributions of selfless people with good results. Try to be a strong and selfless man.
