![]() ![]() This is a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously and, to this end, allows the audience to wonder on a personal level about the possible meanings that accompany the Day of the Dead. ![]() When a cryptic message from the past begins to reveal the existence of a criminal international organization, James Bond embarks on a series of adventures to track down the boss at the top of the pyramid with the help of the daughter of a promising lead. The costume design is largely traditional and compliment the extravagant and large paper mache characters and creatures that dance between the many colonial style buildings that are showcased. It’s hard not to think along these lines as the scene unfolds. One of the coolest things is that the camera weaves in and out of the dressed up crowds participating in the parade, so as the viewer you feel as though you’re walking the streets of the city, perhaps picturing yourself donning a type of disguise. It’s an amazing tracking shot that goes on for a full 4 minutes and makes you feel as though you are right in the festivities. When you mention the Day of the Dead to someone who lives outside of Latin America, fairly often one of their biggest points of reference is the opening sequence in James Bond’s Spectre, where the movie score mixes almost spellbindingly with an extravagant Day of the Dead parade, all of which takes place in Mexico city’s historic downtown district. When young Miguel finds that he has had enough of his family’s longstanding ban on music, he ventures into the Land of the Dead with the hopes of finding a great-great-grandfather of his, who had left his family to follow his dream of being a legendary singer. It’s as playful as it is illustrative and a must see for anyone who is unfamiliar with Mexican culture. In stark contrast to other Pixar movies like Up, it is completely upbeat despite the fact that much of it takes place in the netherworld. The Coco cast is chalked full of lively characters, each of which help to construct a profound morality story. This all too humorous film, that many people will happily tell you is absolutely for the whole family, relies heavily on real life customs that are found throughout Mexico. As such, it has opened Americans up to the holiday to an extent where it is now far more broadly celebrated in households than ever before. ![]() One such wonderful area that’s ripe with creativity is animation, and one of the most fantastical examples is Coco which places Mexican culture and tradition at centerstage in the best possible way. Movies with these themes are popping up all over the place and for those who are curious here are just a few that you might want to check out. In examples that are too numerous to count, this holiday has contributed a considerable amount of beautiful imagery that helps to establish an overall ambience that many moviegoers find to be irresistibly charming.Īnd it is precisely this fun-loving, and oftentimes rambunctious, energy that makes it ideal for cinematic consumption. When it comes down to it, it is an obsession that spans all kinds of genres including action movies and more eccentric works like Tim Burton’s animated tales. Throughout the years in Hollywood, the Day of the Dead has become pretty ubiquitous in movies that incorporate Mexican culture for this reason. We revel in the idea of being able to explore the darker side of ourselves and the world that surrounds us on a daily basis but with a particularly playful attitude. We’re not just talking about the obvious trope that many scary movies employ where the dead come back from the great beyond to give us all a great big fright but rather a cultural celebration that in effect invites us to reflect on where we stand with respect to a broader human story. When elements from the beloved tradition the Day of the Dead are incorporated within the context of video and film the results can be dazzling and evocative for a whole bunch of captivating reasons. ![]()
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