Spoiler Warning: The following post contains spoilers from the Disney movie Coco. If you have not watched the movie yet, please do yourself a favor and watch it before scrolling down and reading this post!
I absolutely loved the movie Coco because it is all about family history. There are many things we can learn from Coco about how to do genealogy and how not to do genealogy. It also explores some of the reasons why so many people feel compelled to learn about their ancestors. Read on for my explanation of family history lessons learned from the movie Coco:
1. Don’t jump to conclusions!
In Coco, it seemed a pretty logical assumption that the guy in the family photo with Ernesto de la Cruz’s guitar was de la Cruz himself. But that assumption was only based on one piece of evidence. Upon discovering more evidence, it was clear that the previous assumption was wrong.
This happens a lot in family history research. Many beginners will automatically make assumptions based on stories they hear or documents they find that seems to match up with a preconceived assumption. An experienced genealogist knows how to make conclusions that are based only on solid evidence. An experienced genealogist also knows how to recognize what additional evidence is still needed to fully prove a conclusion.
Let’s look at the evidence in the movie: a photograph of a person holding a guitar. The person’s face was missing. The guitar is an object, apparently a special one, since the man was holding it in the family photograph. But it is still an object, not an identifying characteristic that is permanently attached to the person. The known fact that Ernesto de la Cruz had a guitar of the exact same design and lived in the same location as Miguel’s great-great-grandfather is very strong evidence suggesting the man in the photograph is de la Cruz. But an experienced researcher would start asking questions: Is there any evidence that de la Cruz ever had a wife and daughter? What is the history of the guitar? Where did de la Cruz obtain it? Was his guitar unique, or was it one of many made by a guitar maker who lived in or near Santa Cecilia?
2. In family history, no one deserves to be forgotten
Everyone has things in their lives they are not proud of. Everyone has people in their family tree who they are not proud of. In Coco, Imelda wants to forget Héctor because she needs to move on with her life. But Coco doesn’t want to forget him.
In the movie, we meet a dead man called Chicharrón who is being forgotten. We don’t know much about him except that he may have a slightly inappropriate sense of humor. Does he deserve to be forgotten because he is a little rough around the edges? Does Ernesto de la Cruz deserve to be forgotten because he is a thief and a murderer? I don’t think so.
We can learn from every person’s actions, good or bad. I have ancestors who did things I am not proud of. But knowing their stories helps me understand the human race. They help me understand myself.
To quote from another Disney movie, The Lion King, “Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.”
“I can’t forgive you,” Imelda says to Héctor in Coco, “but I will help you.” Let’s help our ancestors not be forgotten. Let’s turn their mistakes into our successes. Let’s learn from the past rather than running from it.
3. When someone dies, family memories are lost
Coco centers around the idea that no one is really gone until you stop remembering them. This idea is prevalent in cultures around the world because it helps us deal with the reality that every person will eventually die. We all hold in our minds the memories of loved ones who have passed on, because they are one of the few things we can really hold on to.
When someone dies, all those memories and stories they held in their mind are lost. Unless they told the stories to someone else, those memories are gone along with the person who remembered them. It is so important to ask about these memories while people are still alive. People don’t share their stories unless they feel like someone wants to hear them, so ask! Don’t wait until it is too late. Ask about those stories now.
4. Music, photos, and objects can trigger family memories
Mama Coco doesn’t ever talk about what her papá was like until Miguel plays “Remember Me.” Upon hearing the familiar song, memories are reawakened. She remembers the words. She remembers the photo and letters she has hidden in her drawer and those artifacts in turn spark memories.
If you have any photos or other family artifacts that are a mystery to you, and you have a family member who is still alive who may know about the artifact, ask them about it! When interviewing someone about their history, bringing photos, artifacts, and music to the interview can always help trigger more stories and memories. Even foods and smells can help. Have you ever smelled a familiar spice that brought back memories of Christmas or other holidays at your grandmother’s house?
5. The stories of the dead give purpose to our lives
At the beginning of the movie, Miguel feels like he doesn’t belong in his family. His Abuelita tries to get him excited about making shoes, but he wants to play music, which is forbidden. Hiding in the attic and playing on his guitar gives meaning to his life. He is inspired by the story of Ernesto de la Cruz, but because his family is important to him, he hides his true self from them. When he “discovers” that Ernesto de la Cruz is his family, suddenly Miguel feels like he is allowed to be himself, to do things that he always wanted to do.
Fast forward to the end of the movie: after hearing story after story and gaining a deeper understanding of his family’s past, Miguel returns home with a mission. He must make Coco remember her papá. Miguel goes from being someone who plays music for himself to achieve his own dreams, to being someone who reaches out to others, playing music to inspire them. His knowledge of the past changes the way he sees his family and the way he sees the world. He is focused more on others and less on himself.
Understanding the past can also give our lives more meaning. When we try to understand our ancestors, we start to understand the people in our lives better. We start to understand ourselves and our families better. And we can implement that understanding to improve our lives.
Great lesson from a wonderful movie! Thanks for sharing!