Finding Mulan
When Life, Art, Words and Lunch Bags Collide Perfectly: impressions from the Disney movie Mulan as first shared on “A Purposeful Pop Life” https://apurposefulpoplife.com
Love it. Recommend it. Moved By It?
I’ll start with an honest disclaimer: I am not a fan of Disney, particularly its animated films. I have not seen the original Mulan and had little interest in watching this version too. I had heard the social media gushing about it and read others calling for a boycott. So, I watched the trailer looking for clues but did not see either critique validated. Before agreeing to pay the $29.99 on Disney+, I did a little extra research on my own and learned that the legend of Mulan, notably The Ballad of Mulan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hua_Mulan is real. Now, I was curious. What was the truth about Mulan? Was she a legend or a real person? How would Disney tell this story? Was it worthy of praise, a boycott or something else? As I sat down with my family to watch, I was simply curious, and I hoped my curiosity was worth it.
And it was. Mulan delivered a fast paced and tense, yet elegant and beautifully choreographed story. It was complex, and entertaining to watch. As the credits rolled, I wrote, “I love it. I recommend it”. And then I started to tap my pencil on the paper, because there was something else to say. I was moved by it. But I could not articulate exactly how, or why, or to where, but it moved me.
So, the next morning, I sat alone to re-watch the beginning and end of the movie. Twice. Then I quietly smiled and wrote.
This is the story of Hua Mulan and her father coming to terms with the truth; that Qi exists in Mulan, and she is destined to be a warrior. It’s a journey they must travel to find peace, purpose and hope. A journey teaching…
We often know the truth from the very first moment, but we are afraid to accept it.
Incapacitated by the fear of its implication, we live a life that is not ours, leading us closer to peril, than the promise of our creator.
That Internal struggle, precipitating public failures and shame, brings a sense of relief, quiet joy, and redemption when we finally exhale, and accept our truth.
By granting permission to our inside, we are able to stand firm, outside
Loyal, Brave, True, with Dedication to Family. Amen.
