But this time, I picked a beloved song and have tried to interpret it in the context of Paro. Obviously this song is insanely popular and most people interpret it as a "girl empowerment" song, of how Elsa comes to terms with her identity. One of the main themes of the song is about release from things that hold us back, our past, other people's expectations of us and our greatest fears. In that sense, this song, I believe fits Paro too, on how she developed from a meek sort of girl, to a fearless, secure and completely together person. Also in the movie the song comes at the time of Elsa's coronation that she runs away from, and this brings upon eternal winter in Arendelle. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? In the movie narrative, the song marks the end of the first act. And the story continues after the song.
But the main reason I picked this song is because while on the one hand it is about celebration of freedom from fear, there is also a very strong theme of tragedy in it. In the context of the movie, while Elsa feels particularly powerful during the course of the song, by the end of it she is in danger of losing herself and everything dear to her. To me the best part about the song is not that it is uplifting, but that it establishes a new beginning of sorts, where Elsa has to go through great despair before she gets her happy ending, with the help of her sister Anna.
This VM is not Paro's story. Honestly I am too gutted at this point to make something like that. So there is no linear story as such, just a fusion of a beautiful and textured song and a character I love. But nonetheless this VM attempts to captures the spirit of her (I hope). Also I think there is a sense of optimism in the song. Even though she sings the line "past is in the past", but her final salvation in the movie comes only when she reverses the statement. So ya, hope springs eternal 😊
While on the subject of hope, I know a lot of people believe that Paro and Myrah are the same person. I personally have very mixed feelings about this. Of course the dil wants Myrah to be Paro, but on the other hand, I feel it will make for a better story if she were not. If in the next couple of weeks they give us an inkling that Myrah might in fact just be Paro, then it is okay. But if they however do that as big reveal a few months down the line (after they have developed Myrah as her own person, with quirks, qualities we will love, we loathe et al), I will think of it as cop out. Because to me that is a trick twist and compromises on the integrity of the story. Also, it would be much braver of the writers if they actually showed us that Myrah was her own person, in no way connected to Paro. I am a big fan of second chances. God knows life would be tough otherwise 😊
Sorry if I rained on anyone's parade though.
Anyway, goodbye, Paro (at least as we know you now), you were (are) precious.
I chose the Demi Lovato version of the song only because it is slightly more upbeat, and in the movie it comes at the end credits by which time everything is sorted out.