I lived in Guatemala for seven years of my life and traditions there, given the geographic proximity to Mexico, are sometimes very similar to some Mexican traditions. That being said, I believe this to be one of the reasons I found the movie so relatable and moving. Coco is centered around the Mexican traditions of El Día de Los Muertos (or day of the dead), whose primary purpose is to pray for family, and put out “ofrendas” or “offerings”,  in hopes of aiding the spiritual journey of our dearly departed. This made the holiday a perfect setting for the film to covey and emphasize the importance, and meaning, of family.

Miguel was child like many others around the world, who won your compassion over by his pure will to pursue his dreams, despite the disapproval of his family. I mean, with such innocence and naïveté about the ways of the world, how could a 12 year-old understand why his family would be so opposed to music? After all, there’s a type of music for everyone to enjoy, regardless of taste. Yet, his great-great-grandfather had abandoned the family to pursue music, and so it was assumed that he would follow in those footsteps should music be a part of his life. It reminded me of all the times I was turned down by my parents without truly understanding why. Just because someone else might do something hurtful, it doesn’t mean that he will (or that I would) if placed in the same situation. Our choices are ultimately our own and I find it unfair that you could deny someone happiness for such an assumption. It is a question that I find relatable to this day, and so I placed myself in Miguel’s shoes.

Yet, hispanic culture really tends to center around family and traditions. In this case, the family could not find a way to reconcile their traditions with Miguel’s pursuit of music because their shoe-making origins stemmed from a resentment for a particular musician. This is also something that I could empathize with, since you cannot expect someone to have a positive attitude towards something that hurt them so deeply. It’s a basic conditioning principle. We can therefore understand the Tía’s feelings towards music. How does one consolidate such strong, opposing feelings that have brewed over generations? If you’re Miguel, you start questioning the meaning and purpose of family. If a family is meant to support you through thick and thin, then they should be capable of setting aside resentment for their willingness to show love. Ultimately, that’s what life, and family, is about. Family is there to love you unconditionally, and you can show love through your support for others.

I think this entire film really hits home on what I always believed family is there for. I know that families are very different and come in all forms and sizes, but even if this was based on hispanic traditions, it is a universally relatable movie for people across cultures. How can we not seek acceptance from the people we grew up with? Why should we sacrifice our dreams, and hearts’ desires, to obtain that acceptance?

I think most people past the age of 10 have found themselves asking similar questions at one point or another, making this one of the most relatable movies I’ve ever watched. I couldn’t stop crying (tears of joy at the resolution).

Rate: 10/10