Reviewing Orphan Movies – Part 2

Disney’s Frozen was an international sensation. Grossing at $1.28 billion dollars, the main song, “Let It Go”, was translated and sung for children in 25 different languages. Especially geared towards young girls, it was a massive success that had its audience singing, dancing, and wishing to be just like “Elsa”. But what messages does the story offer children living in a shelter?

Born as princesses of Arendelle, sisters Anna and Elsa spend the majority of their childhood separated from one another and in isolation. This, to protect Anna, because Elsa possesses the unruly power to create and manipulate ice and snow, but cannot control it. The isolated princesses are then orphaned as teenagers, when the king and queen set sail on a royal journey overseas, and are shipwrecked. 

The orphanhood of the girls is necessary to the plot-line, because our story soon settles on Elsa’s identity crisis of becoming queen, while simultaneously hiding her powers for fear of harming those she loves. The pressure culminates in Elsa abdicating the throne, running away into the mountains, and creating her own castle of ice in which to live, forever alone. 

This moment of resolve to isolation and “releasing her powers” is where the famous song “Let It Go” takes place. Elsa sings about her satisfaction in pushing everyone away and destroying old boundaries, saying,

“Don’t let them in, don’t let them see

Be the good girl you always have to be

Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know

Well, now they know…

 

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

I don’t care what they’re going to say

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway”

         Unfortunately for every caregiver of children with trauma, Elsa decides that the best way to combat fear is to say,     

“It’s time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

No right, no wrong, no rules for me

I’m free.”

The reality is, Elsa is responding to a severe identity crisis, as a result of childhood trauma and isolation, by lashing out. For those of us working with abandoned and orphaned children, we know these moments all too well. Upon watching the remainder of the film, we understand that the intention was to resolve this crisis through family acceptance and a reuniting scene with sister Anna. The execution of the healing scenes, however, was underwhelming. 

 

Elsa’s “Let It Go” moment was, by far, the most beautiful, and the most memorable. The famous, dysfunctional song, that millions of children have now sung for themselves, was award-winning and widely beloved. For children of trauma, who often feel that they have guilty, dark and dangerous parts of themselves hidden away, the message is damaging. Children are subliminally taught that divergent behavior and isolation are acceptable and good outlets for internal pressure and confusion. 

 Summary

Frozen is a beautiful movie filled with fun music. The intention behind it is to empower young girls to accept themselves, and work towards healing and integration from their past traumas. However, the climax of the film is unfortunately misplaced, and Elsa’s lowest moment is the most widely celebrated. When showing it to our children, we need to be aware that unhealthy defense mechanisms are glorified, and we may need to combat that message with the truth afterwards. 

    Discussion Starters

• When Elsa was hurting inside, she left Anna and made her own castle. Was that a good idea? Why or why not? 

• What could Elsa have done to feel better, instead of leaving? 

• Was Elsa happier when her power was a secret, or when Anna helped her with it? Why is that? 

As caregivers, we don’t want to miss a single opportunity to help our children heal from their past, and learn the truth of who they are inside. Movies are a perfect tool, because they are simply visual stories. And stories have, and always will be, relatable metaphors into our own journeys, pains, hopes, and future victories. Kids’ movies are no exception! So watch them closely, divide the good from the bad, and start a conversation as a family.