Brave: A Must-See For Moms and Daughters

By Karolyn Castaldo on July 9, 2012

Ladies, though you might think that you’re a little old for this Disney-Pixar movie, forget the weird looks you may get walking into the theater and ignore the stigmas that come along with cartoons; Brave is worth all the hype. I certainly can attest to the fact that the animation is great, the soundtrack fitting and phenomenal and the storyline is developed enough to be enjoyed by people of all ages, but what struck me most was how well the creators of the film played into the struggles between mothers and daughters.

My mom and I have a fabulous relationship. I consider her to be one of my best friends and there is no denying that we get along better than most. That being said, it doesn’t mean that we don’t butt heads. We aren’t perfect; she believes that there are things I could be doing better or striving to be, I believe that I know what’s best and somewhere in the middle we find some common ground. We have each experienced things in life that make us individuals and for that reason, we don’t always agree. I found this to be the case in Brave, as well.

Photo from SPU.edu

Brave  follows Merida’s hardships with her mother’s wishes for her betrothal to a son of one of the Lord’s of their kingdom. However, Merida believes that she deserves the right to decide when to be married and to whom. Rashly, Merida asks a witch for a spell to put on her mother to “change” her and this ends up turning horribly wrong. To turn the spell back, Merida and her mother must work out their differences, which stem from each woman’s sense of pride, and mend their bond.

So, why is this movie a must-see for moms and daughters? Merida and her mother, Elinor, show us that we can’t let what we think or want our destiny to be interfere with what it is in actuality. Oftentimes, our parents want us to be doctors and lawyers, while conversely, we want to be starving artists. They want success for us and we want to follow our hearts. There has to be a balance before there can ever be a next step. If you are in a constant battle over your future with your parents, as many are during college, take your mom or even your dad to see Brave and hopefully they will see what I saw; a movie where prideful notions and desires only led to hurtful fights, and compromise led to a better relationship.

More importantly, for mothers and daughters, the relationship between Merida and Elinor is one to strive for. Though they struggle throughout the movie to find a place where they are both happy with their situation, in the end, they are both carefree and happy with their lives. They can finally relax around one another and truly appreciate the other’s values and quirks. Though some may not consider Merida’s bravery to be traditional, she stood up to her mother, then had the courage to admit that she was wrong and move past their issues. It teaches us all a useful lesson.

Finally, I want to thank my own mom for taking me to see this movie, but also for always supporting me in my decisions, even when you didn’t agree with them. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model, caregiver or friend.

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