From our Family to Yours
Every existing culture and tradition that gives Identity to an individual or group of people must be recognized regardless of how mundane and how complex it is. On the 9th day of November on the year 2020, one of the famous company, Disney, that produces films and movies, created one short beautiful and tear-jerking story to pay homage to Filipinos, who are known for their Christmas traditions that lasts for months, and various characters that rekindles the symbols of that occasion that gives hope and joy. The short film is called “From Our Family To Yours” which depicts a heartwarming story of a Filipino kid and her beloved grandmother. The animated advertisement was produced during the world's dire times amidst the pandemic, and a month before the Christmas starts. The short film was released on some of Disney's social media platforms to celebrate the 40th anniversary and the acknowledgement between Disney and Make-A-Wish partnership for charity purposes.
The short story was set in year 1940 to a busy barrio or town where people are having their own works and businesses —some well-known details about Filipino culture like the form of transportation was highlighted in the short film such as Jeepneys and Kalesa. Also, the village was consist of side or street vendors that were having verbal collisions, and few remarkable details which was the vendor shouting balot, a type of comfort food for most Filipinos, at the background and the parols hanging, the Philippines traditional lantern that illustrates the Christmas spirit. It was shown as well the way how Filipino show respect to the elderly like calling "tatay" and take the hand then put it in the forehead that is called "Mano". In addition, the grandmother teaching the kid how parol is created brings the most significant lesson for it presents how to preserve culture and traditions through passing it from one generation to the other, just like what the grandmother did. As time passes by, as the kid grow older and turning into a fine lady, she have forgotten the essence of the event since she is busy building and creating her own life. However, a magical moment where she realized that her grandmother is already old and Christmas is no longer felt because their home is filled with no lights, she brought back the sheer symbol through setting and lighting up all the Christmas lanterns. The happiness in the grandmother's face touches the soul and heart of the people who watches the film as it draw flashbacks from the past years where Christmas truly an event that gathers family, enjoying the bond and people are all thankful no matter how grand and how simple the food served on the table. Lastly, the short film also conveys a message that Filipino loves to extend their idea of family even though they are not blood related.
The story is just a three minute video, but it is done amazingly and beautifully as they were able to include the culture and traditions of the Filipino. It is indeed delightful how Disney was able to capture these subtle details in Filipino behaviours and community; a good platform was served right to the Philippines for it became a great representation. A representation is really important, especially of the one produces it is has a huge audience, for it values, validates and acknowledges the charm of one or group of people's culture and to make them feel that they are seen and accepted. For a film to be successful, people should understand and observe the signs, symbols and actions depicted. Just like what Wooden said, " it is the small details that are vital. Little things make big things happen".