Belocura x Macaranas x Solana x Tabat

Russian
Formalism
 PLOT
STRUCTURE
Exposition:
At the beginning, A boy named Miguel and his family – the Rivera family was introduced along with
their family’s history and the reason why they hate music. They consider it as a curse after of his great
great grandfather abandoned Imelda, Miguel’s great great grandmother and their daughter Coco for his
music career. Even though his family hates music, Miguel loves music and it is his dream of to become
PLOT & PLOT

a musician just like his idol Ernesto De La Cruz. Miguel went out of their house to go to Plaza Mariachi
and gave him a shoeshine. It is from Plaza Mariachi whom he learned about the talent show.
 PLOT
STRUCTURE
Rising Action:
Miguel wanted to join the music competition for Dia De Los Muertos. Unfortunately, his grandmother,
Abuelita, broke his guitar since music is forbidden in their family. Miguel wanted to pursue his passion
just like his great great grandfather, that is why he ran away and look for some ways to still join the
contest. He tried stealing the late Ernesto De La Cruz's guitar at his mausoleum but ended up into the
PLOT & PLOT

land of the dead.

 PLOT
STRUCTURE
Climax:
Miguel and Ernesto were together when Miguel’s friend, Hector, suddenly appeared appealing to Miguel
about his promise of taking back his photo. Hector confronted Ernesto and there he learned that his
best friend back then and partner in music career poisoned him and stole his compositions. Miguel and
Hector were thrown into a hole by Ernesto and there they found out they were related.
PLOT & PLOT
 PLOT
STRUCTURE
Falling Action:
Imelda and Hector decided to fix everything that is going on between them and forget about what
happened in the past. After that, they worked together to expose all the crimes and cruelty Ernesto has
done and eventually dies when the large bell fell on him. Imelda gave her blessings to Miguel to go
back to the land of living without conditions and help Coco remember Hector – her father.
PLOT & PLOT
 PLOT
STRUCTURE
Denouement:
Miguel was able to go back to the land of the living and into their house safe and sound with
no rules or any conditions. With the help of Miguel, Mama Coco remembers her father again
through the song “Remember Me.” Miguel’s family reconciles with him. His family supported
him with his passion, and they are starting to accept music in their lives again. Now, Miguel
PLOT & PLOT

can play music without any hindrances.

 ORDER OF NARRATION
STRUCTURE
Chronological Order/ Linear
The events in the movie is arranged chronologically and according to time. Although there are
flashbacks, the movie still presented it in the most orderly way. It presented what happened first,
what comes next, until what took place last. The story began when Miguel planned to join the talent
show but then his grandmother crushed his guitar, so he decided to steal Ernesto De La Cruz’s guitar
PLOT & PLOT

but ended up in the land of the dead. There he met Hector and finds out that they were related to each
other and he is his real great great grandfather. He went home safely in the arms of her living family
and made Mama Coco remember his father again.
 CONCLUSION TYPE OF CONCLUSION
Happy Ending (Comedy)
At the end of the film, the Rivera family were all happy knowing that they are now free from the
grudge they are holding and carrying from the past and accepted the passion of Miguel as they
supported him in playing music. Although it wasn’t directly stated that the family has already
unbanned music in their life, it was clearly seen in the ending part of the film that all of them were
celebrating and happily enjoying the moment with each other’s company while Miguel plays his
guitar.
TYPE OF
 CONFLICT
COMPLICATION
Individual VS. Society/Civilization
- Miguel VS. His Family
The main conflict of the story revolves around the aspiring musician Miguel Rivera gaining
new insights about his family’s history and their relationship to music. The young boy desired to
embrace music into his life, but he doesn't have the freedom to do it because his own family views
CONFLICT &

music as a curse. His family forbids him to engage into music and wants him to put all his energy and
attention into the family shoe making business, which he despises. Miguel’s search for musical
independence away from his family is deeply engaging.
 CONFLICT
COMPLICATION
Individual VS. Circumstance
Hector tried cross the marigold bridge without permission because his access is being denied passing
through it. But as he started to run away and tried to pass on the bridge he kept on sinking in the
petals on every step he makes.
CONFLICT &
 CONFLICT
COMPLICATION
Individual VS. Individual
- Hector vs. Ernesto
Ernesto wants to pursue his musical dream, but Hector wants to come back to his family. Ernesto
was so greedy that he poisoned Hector. Hector died and Ernesto stole his guitar and songs including
his song for Coco "Remember Me".
CONFLICT &
 COMPLICATION
COMPLICATION
1. Abuelita Elena destroyed Miguel’s guitar for him not to be able to play and join the talent
show. That is the reason why he ran away.
CONFLICT &
 FLASHBACK
1. The movie started with a flashback where Miguel described his great-great-grandmother's life.
PLOT DEVICES
He described how his family suddenly hated music and turn into starting a shoe business even
though they're related to music at all.
Textual Evidence:
"Sometimes I think I'm cursed 'cause of something that happened before I was even born. See,
a long time ago there was this family. The papá, he was a musician. He and his family would
sing, and dance, and count their blessings. But he also had a dream to play for the world. And
one day he left with his guitar and never returned. And the mamá. She didn't have time to
cry over that walkaway musician! After banishing all music from her life. She found a way to
provide for her daughter. She rolled up her sleeves and she learned to make shoes. She could
have made candy! Or fireworks! Or sparkly underwear for wrestlers! But no, she chose shoes.
Then she taught her daughter to make shoes. And later, she taught her son-in-law. She
introduces a suitor to the family business. Then her grandkids got roped in. As her family
grew, so did the business. "
 FLASHBACK
2. In the earlier part of the film, there's a flashback where Miguel described how his idol Ernesto Dela
PLOT DEVICES
Cruz crushed by a falling bell on his concert and died.
 FLASHBACK
3. When Miguel showed Hector a movie clip of a friend poisoning his so called "amigo", a flashback
PLOT DEVICES
reveals Ernesto poisoned Hector in order to steal his songs and took credit for them when he
became famous, including "Remember Me." Meanwhile, Hector's family thought he ran away and
he's gradually been forgotten by his descendants .
 FLASHBACK
4. When Miguel showed Hector a torn family picture, they discovered that they were related. Hector
PLOT DEVICES
added that he didn't wrote the song "Remember Me" for the world, he wrote it for his daughter Coco.
And then the flashback unveils as Hector starts to sing "Remember Me" where he used to sing that
song when Coco was still a child. Their father and daughter bond was strengthen by the song that he
wrote.
 FORESHADOWING
1. In the earlier part of the movie, Abuelita asked Miguel "Do you want to end up like that man?!
PLOT DEVICES
Forgotten? Left off your family's ofrenda?" It foreshadows that Hector in reality is nearly forgotten. It
is also a hint towards Ernesto Dela Curz's ultimate fate, forgotten and left off his "familias" or the
world wide fans.
 FORESHADOWING
2. When Miguel tells Dante that they need to find his great-great grandfather, Dante 'wanders off',
PLOT DEVICES
immediately leading Miguel into the room where Héctor is being processed. It foreshadows that
Hector is Miguel's real great-great grandfather.
 FORESHADOWING
3. Miguel's family angrily berates him every time he mentions his great-great grandfather, but not
PLOT DEVICES
when he mentions De La Cruz. This is a clue that they're not actually the same.
 FORESHADOWING
4. A closer look at the guitar’s design reveals a golden tooth in the skeleton on the guitar’s neck.
PLOT DEVICES
Miguel can even be seen coloring in the yellow tooth before he plays his duet with Ernesto de la
Cruz’s tape. And also, when Hector was introduced, it's pellucid that he has a golden tooth. It hinted
that they are both related to each other.
 FORESHADOWING
5. In the first introduction of Dante, he is near the Alebrijes table, foreshadowing that he is one of
PLOT DEVICES
them.
 FORESHADOWING
6. While Ernesto was going to give Miguel his blessing, he says to him, "I hope you die very soon"
PLOT DEVICES
which foreshadows his true intentions later in the film.
 SURPRISE
1. Miguel was jovial when found out that Ernesto is his great-great grandfather and Ernesto was also
PLOT DEVICES
proud when he discovered that he have a great-great grandson. But it turns out that they aren't
related to each other.
 SUSPENSE
1. When the picture frame broke, Miguel moved closer to it and picked up the picture discovering that
PLOT DEVICES
a part of it was folded.
 CHARACTERIZATION
• Miguel Rivera
- Protagonist: “Dynamic” “Round”
- A 12-year old young boy and an aspiring musician. Even though
his fascination with music puts him at odds with his family, he
loves all of them dearly.
CHARACTERS &

• Héctor
- Protagonist: “Round”
- A disheveled inhabitant of the Land of the Dead who no one
has left an offering for, leaving him unable to cross over to
the world of the living. He is the father of Mama Coco and
great-grandfather of Miguel
 CHARACTERIZATION
• Mama Coco
- “Flat-Static”
- Miguel's great-grandmother and Elena's mother. She is wheelchair bound
and can barely move.
CHARACTERS &

• Papa Enrique
- “Flat-Static”
- The father of Miguel Rivera and son of Elena Rivera.

• Mama Luisa
- “Flat-Static”
- Miguel's mother, she's pregnant with her second child for most of the
film.
 CHARACTERIZATION
• Mama Imelda
- “Dyanmic”
- Miguel's great-great grandmother and was the one who started the
family shoemaking business and strictly forbade music after her
husband left her and Coco to become a musician. She's strict and
CHARACTERS &

unwavering,and is the matriarch of the deceased Riveras.

• Ernesto De La Cruz
- Antagonist: “Round”
- Miguel's idol and a famous singer/guitarist born in the same town
as Miguel. His past has something to do with Miguel's great-great-
grandfather
 CHARACTERIZATION
• Abuelita Elena
- Foil: “Dynamic”
The current matron of the family, the grandmother of Miguel,
and the ultimate enforcer of the Rivera family's ban on music.
CHARACTERS &

She loves her family very much and will do anything to protect
them. But when she gets angry, she wields a mean slipper.

• Dante
- Confidant/e
- A somewhat goofy Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless dog) stray
dog that follows Miguel around. When Miguel is sent to the land
of the dead he manages to cross over and help Miguel find his
family
 The movie took place in a small Mexican town Santa Cecilia, Mexico and in the land of the dead.
Almost all parts of the scene in the movie happened in that dark and due to the setting, it sets the
mood of the film to be somehow lighthearted, whimsical but with a mix of mystery or mysterious
mood.
SETTING
 LANGUAGE
The story and the language used in the movie itself is in English but somehow it contains some
Spanish words.
STYLE

Textual Evidence:
"Ay, pobrecito! Estás bien, mijo? You know better than to be here in this place! You will
come home.", Abuelita Elena to Miguel
 DICTION
The diction used is colloquial diction. The characters seem like they are just in their normal days,
they use words common in everyday speech.
STYLE
 SYMBOLS
Ofrenda – represents the past, the family, and the promise
of the future that holds the reason for his freedom
STYLE

Marigold Petals – The marigold petals in the film is used by

the dead for blessing a living person. In Aztec times,
marigold flowers symbolize the beauty and warmth of the
rising sun. It denotes that there is still a hope despite of the
grief that someone is suffering.
 SYMBOLS
Calaveras – represents the Mexican culture especially its
folk art.
STYLE

Marigold Bridge – The bridge of marigold petals in the film

connects the world of the living and dead. It is building on
the mythology of marigold petals representing the path to
family. It signifies that family will always have the
connection to each other even there's a world that is
separating them.
 FIGURES OF SPEECH
Irony
Ernesto died in 1942 during a performance courtesy of a large bell. By the end of the film, he is once again
crushed by a bell, this time in the Land of the Dead. He also died 21 years after his murder of Héctor, who
has only 21 at the time. He died immediately after finishing singing a song about leaving somewhere for
good when a bell dropped on him. For added irony, he gets crushed in a similar fashion after being
STYLE

exposed.

Metaphor
"Aw, you're a twig mijo, have some more"

Personification
"Music had torn her family apart, but shoes held them all together."
"Remember me each time you hear a sad guitar"
Reader-Response
Approach
 5 GENERAL
INTERPETATION
OF THE VIEWERS
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
1. Remembering Love Ones

Sometimes, remembering your love ones especially the ones who have already gone is
the thing that most of us have slowly forgotten. But, let us not forget them as they are very
important of being part of our lives and they have contributed on who we are and what we have
become. In the movie, the importance of remembering the members of the family who had
GENERAL

already passed away is highlighted as it is the focus of the story which is celebrating the
Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead").
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
1. Remembering Love Ones
Here are some scenes to elaborate how they show it:
• The movie starts with having a path of marigold petals lined up along the pathway to the
altar or tombstone of someone and a lady ignite some candle on it. This implies that the
people are already starting their holiday which is celebrating the life of the people of their
family who had passed away and making importance by giving them time.
GENERAL

• In the house of Miguel, there is a special room called Ofrenda wherein they would make an
altar for their family who had already passed away with their pictures displayed on it. In one
scene, Abuelita adjusts the photo of her beloved Mamá Imelda. Then she perks her ear at a
hooting sound.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
1. Remembering Love Ones
• “Don't give me that look. Día de los Muertos is the one night of the year our ancestors can come visit us.
We've put their photos on the ofrenda so their spirits can cross over. That is very important! If we don't put
them up, they can't come! We made all this food -- set out the things they loved in life, mijo. All this work to
bring the family together. I don't want you sneaking off to who-knows-where.” This is the line of Abuelita
while talking to Miguel. This shows that remembering their ancestors is very important to them as
they are celebrating the day of the dead with their ancestor’s favourite foods and belongings to
GENERAL

welcome them.

• “We have to make a clear path. The petals guide our ancestors home. We don't want their spirits to get lost.
We want them to come, and enjoy all the food and drinks on the ofrenda, sí?” said by Mama luisa,mother
of Miguel. In this scene, marigold petals are used as guide for the spirits to their house in order for
them to have food and drinks. Marigold petals should be placed carefully and precisely, creating a
clear path for the spirits to avoid confusion and getting lost.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
1. Remembering Love Ones
• In the last scene wherein Miguel came back as human, he cries to his Mama Coco and said this, “I
saw your papá. Remember? Papá? Please -- if you forget him, he'll be gone... forever! Here -- this was his
guitar, right? He used to play it to you? See, there he is. Mamá Coco, please, don't forget him. Mamá Coco?
Your papá -- he wanted you to have this.” Miguel starts to sing "Remember Me" the way Héctor sang
it... softly, from the heart. In this part, Mama Coco would have almost forgotten her father but
Miguel sings “Remember me”, which is Mama Coco’s favourite song from his father. With this, you
GENERAL

can see that he is really passionate for his Mama Coco to remember her father, Hector, as Hector
could be vanish forever if no one could remember him.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
2. Obeying the Elders

One way of showing respect to the elders is by obeying them. And, the importance of
this characteristic is showed in the movie. In the following are some of the things in the film that
would remind us of obeying and following the elders is their own way of protecting us and
keeping us away from harm.
GENERAL
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
2. Obeying the Elders
Here are some scenes to elaborate how they show it:
• “Music had torn her family apart, but shoes held them all together. You see, that woman was my great
great grandmother, Mamá Imelda.” This line was said by Miguel. Before this, he explained that
his Papa, father of Mama Coco, left them and the reason is music. Because of this, Mama
Imelda had banned the music from the rest of their entire life. The next generations had
GENERAL

follow Mama Imelda’s orders. There is reason why she did that. Probably, she thought that
leaving the music behind would help them get away from trouble as not all times that
chasing your dreams would give you positive feedback just like them who was left behind and
she might have thought that doing practical things is better since she had opened her own
shoe factory for living.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
2. Obeying the Elders
• Getting family blessing is also one way of showing respect to the elders. There is one scene that
can be found in the movie wherein Miguel becomes a spirit and in order to comeback as a human,
he needs the blessing of his family members. In this line “Get your family's blessing, and everything
SHOULD go back to normal. But you gotta do it by sunrise!” and “Well technically she can add any
conditions she wants.” said by the clerk, you can see that Miguel should have the blessing, have the
permission and follow any condition from his Mama Imelda, “I give you my blessing to go home... . To
GENERAL

put my photo back on the ofrenda... And to never play music again!” Without accepting the conditions of
his Mama, he could be just like them and he can never return to their home. Because of Miguel’s
stubbornness, he neglects it and got into trouble. But eventually, Miguel learned that it is
important to follow the elders.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
3. Putting trust in someone else will bring you in two places; in a good
place or in a bad place.

Having trust in someone else and earning it is very difficult. Trust is very fragile.
Trusting someone else can bring you to two places which are in good or in bad place. In the
movie, there are instances wherein the trust of a person was tested.
GENERAL
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION 3. Putting trust in someone else will bring you in two places; in a good place
or in a bad place.
Here are some scenes to elaborate how they show it:
• “See, a long time ago there was this family. The papá, he was a musician. He and his family would sing, and
dance, and count their blessings... But he also had a dream... to play for the world. And one day he left with
his guitar... and never returned. And the mamá...? She didn't have time to cry over that walkaway musician!
After banishing all music from her life... The woman gets rid of. She found a way to provide for her
daughter... She rolled up her sleeves and she learned to make shoes. She could have made candy! Or
fireworks!... Or sparkly underwear for wrestlers! But no... she chose shoes... Then she taught her daughter
GENERAL

to make shoes. And later, she taught her son-in-law. Then her grandkids got roped in. As her family grew, so
did the business.”
These lines were said by Miguel when he was explaining their family story when he is
cleaning the shoes of a musician. In these lines, you can infer that because Hector had left them for
music, Imelda’s trust in him had broken. The result of it is her despise of music and banning it in the
rest of her family. Her trust in him put her in a good place as it made her strong and independent
woman as she made a living for them which is opening her own business which is making shoes.
Because of that, she did not only provide for her daughter but also provide living for her next
generation which is still operating up to Miguel’s generation.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION 3. Putting trust in someone else will bring you in two places; in a good place
or in a bad place.
• “Oh, I could never hate you. If you must go, then I'm... I'm sending you off with a toast! To our friendship. I
would move Heaven and Earth for you, mi amigo. Salud!” These words were uttered by Ernesto when
Hector told him that he would like to go home which in that time, they were almost on their goal.
But, Ernesto’s dreams of becoming a great singer pushes him to go through and do evil things. As
the line that he said, “I would move Heaven and Earth for you, mi amigo. Salud”, is very alarming as it
GENERAL

means that he could do anything just to seize his dreams. With that, you can already tell that he
murdered Hector by poisoning him. In this, because of Hector’s trust in Ernesto of being a friend, he
did not notice Ernesto’s motive plans. That is why, Hector was delivered to a bad place and lead it
to his death.
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
4. Following One’s Dream
Life is unreasonable without dreams. If you decide to grow and pursue your dreams, you
will not just give hope to yourself but also to others who want to do the same and you can also
be an inspiration and maker of change to someone’s life. Just like in the movie, Miguel did not let
the hindrances waver his dreams of becoming a musician. He even violated rules of his family
GENERAL

and take risks to seize his dreams.

 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION 4. Following One’s Dream
Here are some scenes to elaborate how they show it:
• “Did de la Cruz become the world's best musician by hiding his sweet, sweet skills? No! He walked out onto
that plaza and he played out loud!” said by, Plaza Mariachi to Miguel while he is telling the story of
his family to him. Plaza Mariachi is telling to Miguel that he should not hide his talent and he
should show it to the entire people. He is implying to Miguel that you cannot be what you want to
be if you will hide it, and have no confidence and courage to show it in the first place.
GENERAL

• In a film clip, an interviewer asked Senor dela Cruz, “Señor de la Cruz, what did it take for you to seize
your moment?” De la cruz then answered, “I had to have faith in my dream. No one was going to hand it
to me. It was up to me to reach for that dream, grab it tight, and make it come true.” Miguel then followed
the clip saying, “...and make it come true”. The words sink into Miguel. He reaches for the flyer for
the plaza “TALENT SHOW.” As Miguel watches the interview, he gained courage to follow what he
really likes and that is to play music. De la Cruz became his inspiration. He first tried to complete
his dream by joining the talent show
 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION
5. You should know to how value your family.

Family is the bond that we are born with. When the roads of life get weary, the support
of the family is the one that matters the most. So, we should understand their importance in our
life and try to shower our love and care. The main reason why we should value our family is that
they are FAMILY because, how can someone not love their family. Our parents are the reason of
GENERAL

our existence and in a way, our grandparents too.

 INTERPRETATIONS
INTERPRETATION 5. You should know to how value your family.
Here are some scenes to elaborate how they show it:
• “Ay, Dios mío... Being part of this family means being HERE for this family... I'm hard on you because I care,
Miguel. Miguel... Miguel?” Abuelita Elena told Miguel this. Miguel might not understand the true
intentions of his Abuelita, and that is to protect him from harm. Miguel misunderstood it as
restrictions and keeping the freedom away from him. Miguel rebelled and did not follow his
Abuelita’s orders. Because of that, he got into trouble by transforming as a spirit. Sometimes, we
GENERAL

saw the reprimand of our elders as restrictions from having freedom especially if they are against
in what we like to do. But the thing is, we did not see their love and effort for us to make us do the
right thing and keep us away from possible harm. Elders have their own way to show their love
and care like reprimanding us.
PRACTICAL
CRITICSMS
 CRITICISMS
CRITICISMS 1. What is your initial emotional response to the work? How did you feel upon
reading it?
We expected it’s only for the children but the movie reigns different lessons that can be
applied to everyone. Upon watching the movie, we felt mixed emotions since it showcases
different genres. It made us cry, laugh, thrill and other emotions that cannot be expressed
PRACTICAL

through words.
 CRITICISMS
CRITICISMS 2. Did you find yourself responding to it or reacting differently at any point? If so,Why? If
not, why not?
As the movie is not just entertaining, we have also many things that we have learned.
The movie is composed of different genres such as comedy, drama, romance and suspense. So,
we have found ourselves reacting to it differently at any point especially in the parts wherein
Miguel would like to sing the song “Remember Me” to his Mama Coco just like how his Papa
PRACTICAL

Hector would sing it and Ernesto was revealed to be not the great grandfather of Miguel and the
murderer of Hector.
 CRITICISMS
CRITICISMS 3. At what places in the text did you have to make inferences, fill in gaps, make
interpretative decisions? Did you make these inferential guesses?
When Hector told Miguel that he wants to cross the bridge to see his daughter, Coco, we
can infer that with that moment that Ernesto is not the Great Grandfather rather, Hector is the
real one. We can also infer with the moment that Ernesto was revealed to be the one who
PRACTICAL

murdered Hector through putting poison in the alcoholic beverage not by food poisoning.
 CRITICISMS
CRITICISMS 4. How do you respond to the characters, the speaker, or the narrator? How do you
feel about them? Why?
The characters are relatable especially in these days. Just like Miguel, choosing your
own path would be difficult especially if the side of your family and your side do not coincide. To
choose from being practical and just follow your family’s legacy or choosing your dreams and
PRACTICAL

ambition and creating your own path is not an easy option. But just like in the movie, it is better
to talk your dreams and aspirations with your family and then decide when your issues are
already solved. For us, it is better to have your family’s blessing as it will be your guide, your
strength and inspiration to reach your goal.
 CRITICISMS
CRITICISMS 5. If you have read a work more than once, how have your second and subsequent
readings differed from earlier once? How do you account for those differences, or
for the fact that there are no differences in either your thoughts or your feelings
about the work?
We have watched the movie twice and for us, the feelings that we have felt is still the
PRACTICAL

same as before but, we have reminded again of so many valuable things and lessons that can we
acquired in the movie such as remembering your loved ones that have already passed away,
follow your dreams as long as you did not hurt anybody, obeying the elders, value your family
and many more. We have also acquired more lessons that we could carry in the future and
understand more the story in the second time than on the first one.
 THEME
“The worst fate is to be
forgotten.”