By Zahraa Aslam 

Staff Writer 

Image source: wearemitu.com 

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

Encanto is a Disney movie that came out on November 24th, 2021 starring Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel Madrigal), John Leguizamo (Bruno Madrigal), Diane Guerrero (Isabela Madrigal), Jessica Darrow (Luisa Madrigal), Maluma (Mariano Guzman), and Wilmer Valderrama (Agustin Madrigal) along with many other stars. 

This movie takes place in the early 20th century in Colombia. It is a comedy, adventure, family, and fantasy film. 

Encanto is about how Abuela and Abuelo Madrigal had to take their kids and flee their home due to armed conflict. While they were escaping, Abuelo had to sacrifice himself in order for the others to make it out safely. He was killed, leaving Abuela on her own to raise their three kids. 

As she was left to search for a new home, Abuela came across a candle which gave her something she had been searching for: a home. The candle is also known as the miracle and it is said that it never burns out. 

The candle/miracle holds power. It granted Abuela’s kids and grandkids powers of their own. Each of their magical abilities contributes to the livelihood of the house and of the town. 

Although everyone in the family had magical abilities, our main character Mirabel was the only one who didn’t get a magical ability, often feeling left out. When Mirabel found out that the miracle was in danger, causing her family to lose their powers, she made it her responsibility to save the miracle. 

What if Mirabel has powers and just doesn’t know it? There have been rumors and theories going around saying that Mirabel is going to take Abuela’s place in being the head/leader of the family. Abuela doesn’t have powers, but unlike Abuela, Mirabel is able to control the house with her emotions. 

Having control over the house might be her power because the house reacts to Mirabel based on her emotions and movements. For example, when Mirabel and her Abuela were arguing, Mirabel was upset and angered. The house then reacted to her by cracking and eventually the house collapsed. When it collapsed, Mirabel tried reaching for the candle and asked the house for help. The house obeyed her and helped her, and it didn’t listen to anyone else the same way it listened to Mirabel. 

There is an additional layer of mystery to this movie, as Mirabel’s uncle and Abuela’s son, Bruno, disappeared out of nowhere one day and the family has not seen or heard from him since. 

Bruno had been living in the walls of his own house for 10 years. But Bruno couldn’t live in the walls forever, he had to come out every now and then, and that’s exactly what he did. 

He would be able to walk around the house without being noticed. Though seeing into the future is his true power, being invisible or not being noticed could be a second unofficial power of his. If you have seen the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” scene, Bruno can be spotted sneaking around in the background. 

If you pay close attention to the balcony you can see Bruno walking around and stopping halfway to dance to the song during Mirabel and Dolores’ parts. This would also explain why Bruno was able to hide so quickly when he thought Abuela was coming when Mirabel found him and brought him back into the house. 

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes mystery, adventure and musicals. What really brought this film to life were the flashbacks that happened throughout the movie. The flashbacks connect the pieces together and also have songs intertwined with them which made it cute and fun. This movie is available to stream on Disney+ and is available for purchase on YouTube.