I just want to take a moment to have some serious gushing about the symbolism in this movie, because this gifset is actually really good for it. I was watching the commentary the other day after buying this  movie, and thereâs a point where they mention how you can TELL Elinor used to be feisty and quite fiery in her youth, much like her very headstrong daughter, but everything about her now is that of a dignified lady who has had to rein herself in to be the diplomat for their kingdom.
Early in the film, you see her walk in a very closed fashion. She holds herself tightly, does not gesture broadly, rarely speaks up. Even her weighted, heavy dress and the way she wears her hair show her as being restrained by the duties she has put upon herself.
Then⊠the events of the movie occur, and in the end, you see her in a loose flowing dress that seems almost more like something Merida would wear. Sheâs excitable, going out and doing things with her daughter, and her long hair is no longer tied back, but instead neatly pinned and flowing. In essence, Elinor herself opened up. She let go and found herself becoming more accepting.
Merida wasnât the only person who learned a lesson about family and responsibility in this movie. Elinor learned that she had to let go now and then in order to relate to, and to understand, her daughter better. It wasnât just Merida growing up, it was Elinor finding that middle ground and standing firmly on it, supporting her daughterâs beliefs when she realized that Merida wasnât the only one who hadnât listened.
She hadnât, either, and Merida was not the only one at fault. The result was not just a one sided lesson, but a beautiful, rounded story of a mother and a daughter finding out that their differences are what really make them so alike, and finding that place to stand together. Maybe they wonât always see eye to eye, but theyâve now learned that they must have open conversation and understanding to hold their family together, and both women grew up immensely in that moment of realization.
In short: itâs not just my own Scottish heritage that makes me love this movie. Itâs that this film is so indicative of the relationships so many young women feel themselves in with their mothers, and I personally am no exception. Elinor and Merida speak to women and daughters everywhere, young and old, and the lesson they learn is one we can all adhere to, no matter how hard it sometimes feels to accept that.