An ongoing series devoted to the little things (a soundtrack, a sculpture, a scene, a bit, a title sequence, a music video, a line) we love.
By Aisha Harris
It’s a given that Pixar has cracked the code for calibrating the perfect feeling-all-the-feels moment: That instant where the narrative taps into its audience’s deepest emotions and reduces it to tears. It’s there in “Toy Story 3.” “Up,” of course. “Inside Out.”
“Coco” is no different — though there’s something uniquely effective about how it gets you to that place.
While there have been songs in Pixar movies before “Coco,” musical numbers have always been much more integral to the Disney canon. And within the last 30 years, many of those Disney movies took advantage of a Broadway staple: the reprise.
In movies like “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and, more recently, “Moana,” the reprise is a return to the melody of an earlier song, used as a declarative statement reinforcing the protagonist’s will in their journey.
“Watch and you’ll see, someday I’ll be part of your world,” Ariel belts to an aloof Prince Eric.
“Coco,” Pixar’s most musical feature to date, offers a twist on the reprise. Rather than pump you up for the big adventure, it’ll bring on all the tears — in the best way possible.
The first time we hear “Remember Me,” while watching “Coco,” it’s performed as an up-tempo romantic tune by the famous singer Ernesto de la Cruz:
But when we hear it again later, it takes on a new form: A lullaby by Coco’s father, Héctor, written for baby Coco:
Only when Miguel, Coco’s great-grandson, travels to the Land of the Dead does he discover the true history of “Remember Me”: Ernesto, upset that Héctor planned to abandon his career and return to his family, poisoned his friend and stole Héctor’s songs to seek fame.
In the movie’s final act, Miguel returns to the living and hopes to restore Coco’s memories of Héctor. The song returns again.
He pleads with her: “I saw your papá!”
Hunched over in her wheelchair, she seems to stare off into nowhere.
Miguel again: What about papá’s guitar?
The family photo?
Nothing.
But then — the guitar again.
One last thread of hope.
“Mama Coco, your papá — he wanted you to have this.”
Miguel begins to strum the guitar and perform the song Coco’s papá wrote for her as a little girl. “Remember me,” he sings in a near-whisper, through tears. “Though I have to say goodbye.”
Cut to a close up of Coco’s hand, draped on the arm of her wheelchair, twitching ever so slightly. The camera moves up to her face, and in that moment, the tiniest flicker appears in her downward cast eyes:
Let’s pause for a second here. The restorative power of memory is a recurring theme: To remember someone is to keep their spirit alive. But it’s how one is thought of that is equally important.
As Miguel continues to sing, the elder Coco’s face begins to soften and come alive. She shuts her eyes for a moment, then joins in, a smile widening upon her face:
Miguel’s face brightens and they lock eyes. Abuelita, Coco’s daughter, is drawn in, too, her own eyes welling with tears. A close up on Coco’s face. She’s absolutely glowing. She remembers:
As I take in “Remember Me” this last time, I recall what that song means to Coco and Héctor, and what it now means to Miguel, who, like myself, gains a new understanding of its lyrics.
While the connection between the song and its characters is very specific to the story, there’s an element of universality that links it to my own experiences as a viewer — the passage of time, loss, family.
And then, through my tears, I think of the memories I have of my own loved ones, and how precious, and precarious, they are.
The repeated occurrences of “Remember Me” are not just a clever play on the movie’s themes of recollection and family, or, as in its Disney predecessors, the rallying cry of a protagonist ready to take on the world. “Remember Me” is a gut punch, that fittingly lingers long after it’s gone.
Aisha Harris is an assistant editor on the Culture Desk at The New York Times.
Images and clips: Disney/Pixar
As an expert and enthusiast deeply immersed in the realm of cinematic storytelling, particularly in the context of animated films, I can attest to the profound impact that music and narrative precision can have on eliciting emotional responses from an audience. My extensive knowledge spans across various genres and styles of filmmaking, with a keen focus on the intricate details that contribute to creating memorable moments in cinema.
Now, delving into the article penned by Aisha Harris, it's evident that she recognizes the unique prowess of Pixar in crafting emotionally resonant moments. The ongoing series she mentions is devoted to celebrating the nuances of storytelling that might be easily overlooked but play a crucial role in captivating the audience.
The author specifically highlights Pixar's ability to evoke deep emotions in films like "Toy Story 3," "Up," "Inside Out," and, in this case, "Coco." The focus here is on how "Coco" employs a musical element, "Remember Me," to achieve a powerful emotional impact. Aisha points out that, unlike many Disney movies that utilize reprises to emphasize a character's determination, "Coco" takes a different approach.
The central musical piece, "Remember Me," undergoes a transformation in its presentation throughout the film. Initially performed as an up-tempo romantic tune by the character Ernesto de la Cruz, it later takes on a different form – a lullaby by Coco's father, Héctor, for baby Coco. The evolution of the song becomes a crucial narrative device, revealing the dark history behind it involving betrayal and stolen dreams.
Aisha skillfully breaks down the pivotal moment in the movie when Miguel, Coco's great-grandson, discovers the true meaning behind "Remember Me." The article emphasizes the theme of memory and its restorative power, linking it to the broader theme of keeping someone's spirit alive through remembrance.
The author underlines the universality of the song's impact, drawing parallels to her own experiences and highlighting the profound connection between the movie's themes of recollection, family, and the viewer's personal emotions. Aisha concludes by recognizing the enduring impact of "Remember Me" as more than just a clever play on the movie's themes, describing it as a "gut punch" that lingers in the audience's emotions long after the film concludes.
In essence, Aisha Harris expertly unpacks the intricate details of how Pixar, through "Coco," employs music, specifically the evolving "Remember Me," to create a deeply emotional and universally resonant cinematic experience.
