![coco.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPxeSh2wi5jkxzUh1NfMELt9WH62bKvf7G7vSb8yV5u5M/coco.jpg)
[Source](http://pixar.wikia.com/wiki/Coco)


Today three of us went to watch [Coco](http://movies.disney.com/coco) in the theater. While the impression is fresh in my mind I wanted to write down my thoughts, because this movie was wonderful. As is Pixar's track record in general, in my opinion. If you have not watched it yet, I would recommend it. There are no spoilers in what follows, so do not worry.

If you [google](https://www.google.com/search?q=coco+cry) or ask for impressions, most people will focus on its ability to touch your heart and make even the most macho of men cry. I'll let you be the judge of that, but I want to focus instead on a few relevant themes.

# Being Forgotten

[Día de Muertos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead), or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday centered around remembrance of ancestors, and it sets the stage for the movie. Traditionally, families set up *Ofrendas*, or colorfully decorated altars dedicated to their ancestors with food offerings. They believe that the souls of the ancestors would come to visit during this time. In this way, the ancestors would never be forgotten. 

Coco is very creative in bringing this belief to life, and you can't help but be engrossed in the world that they have created. The movie gives the souls a form, and a place to live (with some fun bureaucratic similarities with our world), and on the Day of the Dead the marigold petals form a bridge between the world of the living and the dead. 

In terms of belief, I'm quite cynical when it comes to the afterlife: I don't believe there is one. But I like these traditions, and perhaps I am a little envious. I can trace my roots, but just to my grandparents. And they are all gone. Because I'm a second generation American, I barely know them. In some cases, I could barely communicate due to a language barrier. This is probably a good time for me to ask my family what they know and record it somewhere... *Makes mental note.*

But I have a logical extension that is just a bit more sad: *It doesn't matter that we become forgotten.* Does it? And certainly the majority of people that have ever lived have become wiped from the world of the living. Those that remain? Are they even the same person, or just some glorified image of what we want them to be?

# Making Peace With Ancestors

One of the fun themes that appears in many stories is that of the family curse. That in your current life you are being punished for something that a distant ancestor had done. Or that in tracing the family tree, there is a sinister pattern that occurs repeatedly. Or in the case of Coco, a part of you that is screaming out and you don't know where it comes from. Unknown ancestors.

Even though I don't care so much about being forgotten myself, on recent reflection, I don't want to forget my roots. I didn't really care so much about it before, but of course, knowing more about your ancestors gives you some idea of who you are. Maybe it's just something I've been avoiding. Because growing up, our family did not really explore this topic much, and I wonder why.

I also think this is one of the reasons why the movie impacted me more. There's a particular scene that had me shaking to the core. I was talking with my wife after the movie and she was not affected as much. Touched, yes, but I found it odd that she was not as impacted.

She told me that she already made peace with some of her ancestors. There were two rounds of meditation that met with two different family members. The guided meditation involved recalling various memories and reacting to it, and communicating with them. A form of release, for example if there were particularly painful memories. She was telling me that it's important to make peace starting with your parents, and then to grandparents. Address any particular pent up feelings that can finally be set free. Something for a later exploration, I guess.

## Back to Coco

We had a nice discussion about the movie and what it means to us, and I thought to share some of that with you. 

On some lighter notes, a relative of Opal's appears in the film. The doggy reminded us of her (well, they're both cute dogs). Being a spiritual guide in the land of the dead would be quite a feat if Opal could pull that off.

Did any of you watch this movie yet? What did you think? And what do you think about remembrance?