Solis 1

Danica Solis

Ms. Castro

English 1301

15 October 2023

The Book of Life, released in 2014, is a visually captivating work of art. The poster mainly

features the main characters of the film, Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin. In the background is the

primary location of the film, which is the Land of the Remembered with sugar skulls as buildings

and many colorful sightings. The attire that the main characters have describes their personality

more thoroughly. For example, Manolo’s suit and his guitar show his artistic side. His dream of

wanting to be a musician has been something he's always wanted. Maria’s gown offers the

elegance she has, as well as the pose and expression she has shows her as a strong-willed

character. For Joaquin, he shows a particular stance that shows his defender side. This poster

not only offers all the main characters but shares a preview of the storyline.
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When looking at the image for the first time, the main focus that catches the eye is the

color palette of this poster. It is known for its warm and vibrant color theme. The colors chosen

are to arouse Mexican Culture as it is known that this film is a guide to the El Dia de Los

Muertos holiday. The vibrant colors stand out from the original background as it is meant to

parallel the central theme. The Land of the Remembered is filled with colors and is a lively place

in comparison to the Land of the Forgotten, where it is a dull place full of souls who were

forgotten and are miserable. The colors chosen, such as marigold orange, red, and bright blue,

all are to highlight the dominance of Mexican culture. For example, red is being used to portray

love and passion. In the poster we see Manolo holding a guitar as it is his form of expressing his

feelings and dignity to Maria. Blue is used to show heroism, which is a reason for Joaquin's suit

because he is the town's protector. The focal point of the poster is the three main characters.

Manolo’s personality is full of determination just by his facial expressions that immediately stand

out to the audience's eyes. Marias can be described as solid and full of confidence. Lastly,

Joaquin’s facial highlights his protective side.

In this poster, there are two parts: most of the background is set to be in the Land of the

Remembered. In this, we can analyze how different it is from the real world. In the Land of the

Remembered, there is a lively town with guitars as buildings and sugar skulls as hot air balloon

rides. As well as, there being many vibrant florals and whimsical creatures as buildings. The

background set compliments the cultural image as it includes sugar skulls and marigold flowers

that all highlight the celebration of the holiday. It all can be seen as a celebration for the dead.

On the other hand, it shows the side of the living where the three main characters are standing.

Although there isn't much shown of the real world other than the grass, the audience can see it

is not as lively as the Land of the Remembered.

However, if we look carefully, we see a lot of symbolism throughout. For example, the sugar

skulls are one as they are a remembrance of El Dia de los Muertos. They are often put on

altars, ofrendas, and even tombstones. As they represent offerings to the souls, people want to
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remember. Next, the guitar shown, represents Manolo’s artistic side and his passion for wanting

to be a musician. He also has swords behind him, but since he would rather be a musician than

a bullfighter, he is holding the guitar. It shows his compassion and feelings. The marigolds

represent love and remembrance, as many people who celebrate use this flower to

commemorate the dead and attract their souls to the altar. The elements in this image work

together by showcasing the imagery shown. For example, the background perfectly fits with the

main focus because it shows the set of the movie, and it works by featuring Mexican art and

culture, which allows the audience to fully visualize the point of view that they are trying to share

across.

In conclusion, the poster acknowledges and beautifully captures the visual elements

representing and celebrating El Dia de los Muertos. It comes together by accepting many

captivating elements that tie in with the theme of the story, which is to remember all those who

came before us and have passed and celebrate them. Like the characters in the film take off on

a journey to self-discovery, the poster also invites us to do the same and put some respect to

cultural assets. As we learn more and more about value and putting everything into

consideration, the poster brings more imagery to life.