Brave ~ Family

The film Brave explores family relationships, specifically a mother and daughter relationship. In this relationship the film also explores the process of a child coming to understand their parent/s as a real and complex person and not just as someone who should fulfill their needs and wants. A child generally grows up with the parent providing all the necessities of life in early life and always being their for their child. However, eventually a child comes to realize and develop a more balanced relationship with their parents. This is what happens between Merida and Fergus in that Merida comes to understand her mother better and in turn decides to help her mother much like how her mother only tries to help her. Also, here the film has a coming of age moment as well since Merida grows to become caring much like her mother is caring. So, the film shows the coming of age process of learning to understand others perspectives, particularly, parents' perspectives. The film is about 'understanding' others and then making one's own decisions. Merida doesn't completely agree with her mother, nor her mother with her, but they both come to understand one another and make a compromise.

The film also explores the reality of undergoing hardships, conflicts, and rifts within family relationships. The film recognizes that families aren't happy 100% of the time but that they have to work to keep their family together. Merida learns about working to keep a relationship and the need to sometimes repair relationships in that she must repair the relationship with her mother in order to reverse the spell on her mother.

Another concept we discussed in class was that some media is close to us because we share it with others and that experience of sharing with others is what makes it important or good to us. For example, Fergus wasn't necessarily fisher or hunter but spending time with her daughter was important to her so she has and will have fond memories of catching fish with her daughters. Also, Merida and Fergus bonded together when breaking into the castle. Overall, quality time together with family is important and is what brings people together. So, watching Merida and Fergus bond together with family could also be a bonding experience, which is what the film is hoping for.