"Encanto" Coming Fall 2021

[dreday3]

What about Coco?

I really like Encanto a lot, but Coco shouldn't be overlooked (although it's a tougher subject because it deals even more with death and loss vs. Encanto being a more upbeat film even if it also includes death and loss).

I LOVE Encanto, but Coco is still better in my opinion.

 

[mdcpr]

Are you Latine, by any chance? I have never seen it written as Latiné, ever, and it's not ridiculous. What is ridiculous about wanting to be inclusive and trying to navigate the world respectfully?

I am! 100% Latina (my preferred way of describing myself). And yes, Latiné does exist as a term, but not one that is commonly used since Latinx is the preferred non-gender specific one. And totally agree on navigating the world respectfully, but also on embracing our wins as Hispanics/Latinos/Latinx. Much to gain when everyone stands together, than stating is a 'win' for a specific group.

 

[mdcpr]

LMM isn't opening doors for anyone but himself. He does not represent Latine people as a whole--in fact, much of his experience has nothing to do with the rest of us because he has several unique positions. To even imply that he has anything in common with the majority of Latine people, especially in the US, is a falsehood. Even saying "H*spanic" is a misnomer because so many people in these countries are not Spanish and do not speak Spanish. LMM literally just threw Afro-Latine people under the bus with the IN THE HEIGHTS movie. Again, it was framed as though we should all "just be happy" it was made, regardless of who was sidelined or crushed in the process.

I never said I didn't like the movie (Encanto)--I liked it quite a lot. But this was a moment for Colombia and Colombians not for "all of us"--least of all to be given to people who have great privileges and protections in the US. Latine people are not all the same people. And even amongst ourselves, we are not monoliths. Of course we have a lot of overlap and similarities, but this was a really important moment for specifically Colombians, and I feel like it was squandered in many ways.

We still have Shakira and Maluma.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I am! 100% Latina (my preferred way of describing myself). And yes, Latiné does exist as a term, but not one that is commonly used since Latinx is the preferred non-gender specific one. And totally agree on navigating the world respectfully, but also on embracing our wins as Hispanics/Latinos/Latinx. Much to gain when everyone stands together, than stating is a 'win' for a specific group.

Just as an aside on this, I spent the past month in Mexico City and was interested to see the latest issue of Chilango magazine (Chilango is slang for someone from Mexico City) was titled "Chilangues del año 2021". I don't know where that leaves calling the magazine Chilango, but nevertheless...

In general from friends in Mexico, I am seeing people use 'e' a lot more to be gender neutral online and my feeling is that it is gaining more currency at least there than Latinx ever did. It does have the advantage of being pronounceable, at least.

 

[mdcpr]

Just as an aside on this, I spent the past month in Mexico City and was interested to see the latest issue of Chilango magazine (Chilango is slang for someone from Mexico City) was titled "Chilangues del año 2021". I don't know where that leaves calling the magazine Chilango, but nevertheless...

In general from friends in Mexico, I am seeing people use 'e' a lot more to be gender neutral online and my feeling is that it is gaining more currency at least there than Latinx ever did. It does have the advantage of being pronounceable, at least.

The funniest joke I ever heard was from a guy who said he would only called himself Latinx when he's able to fry a pig with his eyes. It cracked me up.

 

[Dear Prudence]

What about Coco?

I really like Encanto a lot, but Coco shouldn't be overlooked (although it's a tougher subject because it deals even more with death and loss vs. Encanto being a more upbeat film even if it also includes death and loss).

Coco was less Americanized than Encanto. I wouldn't necessarily compare them on the loss and trauma scale, because it's all relative. I do wish they had gone in as hard for Colombia.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Coco was less Americanized than Encanto. I wouldn't necessarily compare them on the loss and trauma scale, because it's all relative. I do wish they had gone in as hard for Colombia.

I wondered a little whether the pandemic and travel restrictions had an impact on that. My impression is that the creative team spent a lot less time in Colombia than was the case in Mexico for Coco. Perhaps the initial controversy over Disney trying to copyright Día de los Muertos also really pushed the Coco team to bring on people like Lalo Alcaraz to consult.

As I think is obvious from this thread, I really enjoyed Encanto, though I am also curious how Colombians have taken to Encanto compared to the embrace of Coco in Mexico. I'm not Colombian nor have I spent nearly as much time there as in Mexico, but it doesn't strike me as specifically Colombian as Coco was Mexican. For example, I think Coco has a lot in it that is probably only really recognisable to people from Mexico or who know particularly Mexican popular culture. Not so sure if that's true with Encanto and my impression is that it has been embraced more as a film people like more than something to which people with Colombian heritage feel a particular attachment. I may be completely wrong on that, though!

 

[DCBaker]

 

[tcool123]

I wondered a little whether the pandemic and travel restrictions had an impact on that. My impression is that the creative team spent a lot less time in Colombia than was the case in Mexico for Coco. Perhaps the initial controversy over Disney trying to copyright Día de los Muertos also really pushed the Coco team to bring on people like Lalo Alcaraz to consult.

As I think is obvious from this thread, I really enjoyed Encanto, though I am also curious how Colombians have taken to Encanto compared to the embrace of Coco in Mexico. I'm not Colombian nor have I spent nearly as much time there as in Mexico, but it doesn't strike me as specifically Colombian as Coco was Mexican. For example, I think Coco has a lot in it that is probably only really recognisable to people from Mexico or who know particularly Mexican popular culture. Not so sure if that's true with Encanto and my impression is that it has been embraced more as a film people like more than something to which people with Colombian heritage feel a particular attachment. I may be completely wrong on that, though!

Can only speak from what my friends from Colombia have said but they love Encanto. They enjoyed seeing things like arepas, buñuelos, cafe tinto (I believe thats how it is?), ajiaco, the sombrero vueltiaos, etc. Wish I could say the same about the Encanto booth at Festival of the Arts though

 

[Dear Prudence]

I wondered a little whether the pandemic and travel restrictions had an impact on that. My impression is that the creative team spent a lot less time in Colombia than was the case in Mexico for Coco. Perhaps the initial controversy over Disney trying to copyright Día de los Muertos also really pushed the Coco team to bring on people like Lalo Alcaraz to consult.

As I think is obvious from this thread, I really enjoyed Encanto, though I am also curious how Colombians have taken to Encanto compared to the embrace of Coco in Mexico. I'm not Colombian nor have I spent nearly as much time there as in Mexico, but it doesn't strike me as specifically Colombian as Coco was Mexican. For example, I think Coco has a lot in it that is probably only really recognisable to people from Mexico or who know particularly Mexican popular culture. Not so sure if that's true with Encanto and my impression is that it has been embraced more as a film people like more than something to which people with Colombian heritage feel a particular attachment. I may be completely wrong on that, though!

There weren't any Colombians on the core creative team. There was a Mexican American producer, and two of the writers were Cuban and Puerto Rican (and very much American)--so it comes off as more broadly Latin than specifically Colombian. This was really apparent in the use of food to me. I am Mexican (Nahua, specifically) and not Colombian, and even I was asking, "where is the food?!" Julieta is supposed to be able to heal people with food with just the most basic and superficial surface level foods?! Only having buñuelos and arepas?! Really?! Bandeja Paisa is the national dish (I think unofficially), and I imagine could REALLY get folks back to 100%!

I really enjoyed Encanto, and it flourished in ways Coco didn't, as Coco flourished in ways that Encanto didn't. I think part of it is that Mexico has a really high representation in the US and the world stage. There are a lot more of Mexican Americans (myself included) than other Latin populations in the US. I think the other thing about Encanto is that it was originally supposed to be set in Brazil and that it was switched at some point. Among Latin people, Colombia is seen like such a joke, which is so sad, which is why I was really, really rooting for this movie. I feel like they were too scared to alienate non-Latin viewers in ways they weren't with Coco. I am just so glad the whole voice cast is Colombian, that was wonderful. I am really happy that this movie exists.

 

[Dear Prudence]

Can only speak from what my friends from Colombia have said but they love Encanto. They enjoyed seeing things like arepas, buñuelos, cafe tinto (I believe thats how it is?), ajiaco, the sombrero vueltiaos, etc. Wish I could say the same about the Encanto booth at Festival of the Arts though

oh yeah, cafe tinto! Wait, where is there ajiaco? in the movie?

 

[tcool123]

I am just so glad the whole voice cast is Colombian, that was wonderful. I am really happy that this movie exists.

Unfortunately the singing voice of Abuela is Olga Merediz, a Cuban.

 

[tcool123]

oh yeah, cafe tinto! Wait, where is there ajiaco? in the movie?

If my eyes didn’t deceive me is was the dinner when the family was all together

 

[Sir_Cliff]

There weren't any Colombians on the core creative team. There was a Mexican American producer, and two of the writers were Cuban and Puerto Rican (and very much American)--so it comes off as more broadly Latin than specifically Colombian. This was really apparent in the use of food to me. I am Mexican (Nahua, specifically) and not Colombian, and even I was asking, "where is the food?!" Julieta is supposed to be able to heal people with food with just the most basic and superficial surface level foods?! Only having buñuelos and arepas?! Really?! Bandeja Paisa is the national dish (I think unofficially), and I imagine could REALLY get folks back to 100%!

I really enjoyed Encanto, and it flourished in ways Coco didn't, as Coco flourished in ways that Encanto didn't. I think part of it is that Mexico has a really high representation in the US and the world stage. There are a lot more of Mexican Americans (myself included) than other Latin populations in the US. I think the other thing about Encanto is that it was originally supposed to be set in Brazil and that it was switched at some point. Among Latin people, Colombia is seen like such a joke, which is so sad, which is why I was really, really rooting for this movie. I feel like they were too scared to alienate non-Latin viewers in ways they weren't with Coco. I am just so glad the whole voice cast is Colombian, that was wonderful. I am really happy that this movie exists.

Yes, and Mexico is a fairly unique country in terms of the projection its culture has had in the world. There aren't many countries that have produced so many cultural references that are so well known in so many other countries. I mean, Mexican music and classic cinema is also pretty huge in Colombia, as was Coco! I have the impression and I do hope that Colombia is recovering from its image problem. This may be a little superficial, but it suddenly seems to have become a place to which people at least in Mexico and Central America want to travel and there seem to be more and more Colombian musicians finding international success. Hopefully the film contributes to a growing appreciation for the country, which is also incredibly diverse. On that note, judging from comments on Colombian media outlets online at least, I did note the racial diversity of the cast seemed to get the noses of those who like to imagine the country as largely white and mestizo out of joint!

I guess I didn't notice the food issue so much, but I wonder whether arepas are both obligatory and safe as they are kind of ubiquitous in Colombia. I may be wrong on this, but my impression was always that bandeja paísa was not something everybody from outside of Antoquia necessarily recognised as a national rather than a regional dish. Ajiaco, mind you, is a different case, and also crosses borders! Mind you, and I may be remembering this wrong, but I don't think Coco delved that much into food beyond some references to tamales and maybe mole? Again, that might of been safe as they seemed to base it on a mix of places and Mexican food is also so regionally diverse. Interestingly, Encanto seems more tied to a specific region in Colombia.

 

[tcool123]

I guess I didn't notice the food issue so much, but I wonder whether arepas are both obligatory and safe as they are kind of ubiquitous in Colombia. I may be wrong on this, but my impression was always that bandeja paísa was not something everybody from outside of Antoquia necessarily recognised as a national rather than a regional dish. Ajiaco, mind you, is a different case, and also crosses borders!

I’ve always associated arepas with the Venezuelan culture, but foods are often shared so like a part of me always knew they were also Colombian

Cuban here and my parents and grandparents have prepared ajiaco in the past as well, and always associated as Cuban due to that, but many countries share dishes prepared differently. Just look at the empanada! Off the top of my head I can think of three major varieties all different to each other in taste and preparation.

 

[Dear Prudence]

Some of my favourite moments from the film were Camilo doing the finger snap when Antonio gets his room (I cried), the bluntness of the kids talking to Mirabel, and the wholesomeness of the dads. We so often think of Latino dads being controlling and toxic, and it's just not true. I want Tío Félix to be my dad lol

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I’ve always associated arepas with the Venezuelan culture, but foods are often shared so like a part of me always knew they were also Colombian

I feel like one of the first questions you get from Colombians when you've spent some time there is "do you prefer Colombian arepas or Venezuelan arepas?" Thankfully, a fair amount of Colombians also prefer Venezuelan arepas because...

 

[MisterPenguin]

Unfortunately the singing voice of Abuela is Olga Merediz, a Cuban.

But she nailed the Colombian accent in her pronunciation of "Oye". (Oh-jhay v. Oi-ay)

My ersatz adopted son is from Colombia (Medillín) and he won't shut up about arepas.

 

[tcool123]

But she nailed the Colombian accent in her pronunciation of "Oye". (Oh-jhay v. Oi-ay)

Oh she nailed everything, and she is very talented. Huge fan of her in this and In the Heights.

I actually remembered another food that was shown in the film: tequeños - or something that looks like them. Also apologies if I used the wrong word, I know for the buñuelos I typically call then pan do bono as buñuelos are something completely different in my culture

To the left of the basket you can spot a grouping of them, albeit not 100% sure if they’re tequeños but they look just like them.

 

[DCBaker]