Disney’s Encanto was released in cinemas on 24 November and we have to say we loved it! There’s magic, beautiful landscapes (that actually exist) and charming characters, all in a very Disney atmosphere.
This is the first Disney film to be set in Colombia and we were touched by the fact that the country is shown in a different light from the negative clichés to which we are unfortunately so accustomed.
Producers Byron Howard and Jared Bush made a 2-week trip to the country where they focused on the most authentic aspects of Colombian culture.
However, if you haven’t yet been to Colombia, there are plenty of little details that you may have missed out on to fully appreciate Disney’s Encanto.
9 things you need to know to understand Disney’s Encanto
1. Biodiversity
Colombia is the 2nd most biodiverse country in the world. In the film, you can see an exuberant natural environment reminiscent of the Amazon. The Madrigal house is surrounded by mountains (the Andes), wax palms and coffee plantations, which immediately bring to mind the coffee region and the Cocora Valley. Disney’s Encanto is also very colourful, with a wide variety of flowers and little Antonio, who is always accompanied by animals found in Colombia such as jaguars, toucans, cabiaï, tapirs, etc. Towards the end of the film, we also see Caño Cristales, the river of 5 colours!
© Disney
2. A history of violence and forced displacement
Grandmother Madrigal is forced to leave her village because of the violence. Her husband, grandfather Madrigal, died at the hands of bandits. Since 1985, millions of Colombians have had to leave their homes to settle elsewhere because of the internal war that has lasted for more than 50 years. Unfortunately, Colombia is the country with the most internally displaced people in the world.
3. The importance of the extended family
The family is a central theme in the Disney film Encanto. In Colombia, the family is not limited to parents and children. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are very present in Colombian families. Family members are present at important events, but also on less formal occasions. The role of the grandmother is also very important. She can be central to the family’s vision and protection.
4. Different skin colours
Contrary to popular belief, Colombia is a melting pot of colours, including skin colour. Geographically, Colombia is the first country in South America. During the Spanish colony, Colombia was an almost obligatory passage for Europeans and their slaves from Africa on their way to the south of the continent. The members of the Madrigal family are the result of this melting pot: Luisa is tall and white; Pepa is redheaded; Antonio is Afro-descendant; Mirabel is mixed race!
© Disney
5. The culture
Colombians are slightly superstitious people. We see Bruno, the ostracised son of the Madrigal family, throwing salt over his shoulder for good luck. He also touches wood to prevent bad things from happening. Colombians also tend not to point with their fingers but with their mouths! Mirabel uses this gesture to show his cousin Antonio where to find an object he’s looking for. Finally, Colombians are quite gentle in their way of speaking, and even strangers can call you ‘my love’ (mi amor), ‘my life’ (mi vida) and ‘my heart’ (mi corazón). The Madrigal family uses these expressions of tenderness time and time again.
6. The food
Las ‘arepas’, or corn cakes, are central to Colombian cuisine. It can be found all over the country and in many different forms: fried, stuffed, grilled, sweet, savoury, large, small, etc. Mirabel’s mother cooks twice a week. Mirabel’s mother cooks an arepa with hot cheese twice in the film. At Isabel’s engagement dinner, the meal is ajiaco, a typical Bogotá dish. It’s a soup made from 3 types of potato, with chicken, avocado, rice, corn and capers. We also see ‘buñuelos’, which are sold by street vendors in the village square.
7. Typical clothes
The very colourful clothes worn by Mirabel, the film’s protagonist, are inspired by several places in Colombia: her jumper is inspired by the folk clothing of Velez, a village in the department of Santander. Her hand-woven handbag is typical of the indigenous Wayúu community of Guajira in the north of the country. You can also see the ‘sombrero voltiao’, the characteristic Colombian hat, and the white ‘guayaberas’ shirts that originated in the Caribbean. Finally, all the characters are wearing espadrilles, traditional footwear for Colombians.
8. The music
Music is as omnipresent in Encanto de Disney as it is in Colombia. We hear the accordion, an essential musical instrument for the vallenato, an authentic Colombian musical genre in the same way as the cumbia. The film’s central song ‘Colombia mi encanto’ is sung by Carlos Vives, an iconic figure in Colombia. It’s a mix of vallenato and champeta, two Caribbean rhythms from Colombia. You can also hear salsa by Fruko and Joe Arroyo, two artists from Cali.
9. The architecture
The Madrigal house was inspired by Hacienda Bambusa, the coffee hacienda where the two producers stayed. The architecture is typical of the coffee haciendas of the coffee region. The flower-filled tower of the Madrigal house is unmistakably reminiscent of the colonial houses of Cartagena, with colourful flowers falling from the balconies to the ground. The main door of the house, in green, is the same as that found in Barichara, a village that has stood still in time and is a firm favourite with travellers.
© Disney
The village also features prominently in the film, with its cobbled streets and colourful doors and windows.
Other details include the character of Luisa, inspired by Colombian Olympic weightlifting champion Maria Isabel Urrutia. Antoine’s character was inspired by the international football player Cuadrado.
We have to admit that in just 2 weeks, the producers were able to absorb a good deal of Colombian culture. The film was able to convey the Colombians’ joie de vivre and, above all, our desire to showcase the wonders of the country.
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