Review: Moana— Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements
Recently I revisited one of my favorite Disney films to date and I decided to explore its themes. Moana is a 2016 Disney-Pixar film that is based on Polynesian myth. The character of Moana-- for whom the movie's title is named-- is an original character. Her story is rooted in the tales of various legendary figures including Maui (who in this version is played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who himself is part-Samoan). Maui is a trickster-spirit whose antics helped bring about the creation of islands, coconuts, and even gave humans the ability to tame fire. In this story however, Maui gets in way over his head when he tries to steal the Heart of Te Fiti-- a precious green stone that belongs to the island goddess with the ability to create life itself. This results in the creation of a lava demon named Ta Kā, whose presence emboldens the monsters of the seas and which spreads a dark sickness onto every island.
The story itself follows Moana, who is the next-in-line for chiefdom. Despite her father's wishes, Moana longs to sail across the ocean. It is a desire that develops from when she is a young girl. The plot thickens when the sickness reaches their island and begins to destroy the very crops and scares away the fish they need to survive. At the urging of her grandmother, Moana disobeys her father and endures a perilous quest to find Maui, his hook, and to return the Heart to Te Fiti. It is one that pulls Moana away at a stringent time, because her grandmother is passing away and her people are looking to their leaders for comfort in their uncertainty. It is also a point of contention for Moana. Though young and inexperienced in the art of sailing, Moana has the guts and the determination to undertake the quest. Little does she realize just how much the journey will demand from her-- especially when she encounters Maui.
Moana's adventures are unique in that she has to rely on her creativity, resourcefulness, and her belief in herself. She is accompanied by her pet chicken named Hei Hei, whose role is largely left in question throughout the story. Her interactions with Maui are familiar to many who have had to deal with men who may be overconfident and egotistical. The plot leads the three heroes to discover and realize their own strengths and to acknowledge moments where they need a helping hand. The Ocean itself is also a major player throughout the story. It is the Ocean that chooses Moana to undertake the quest and it is also the Ocean that mitigates the conflict between Ta Kā and its champions.
Perhaps what I appreciate most about Moana is that it sets itself up at first as a traditional narrative of good v. evil and then later becomes a heartfelt exploration into the themes of redemption, mercy, and reconciliation. It is a story that moves me and one that I like to showcase to others whenever people ask me about my personal beliefs about justice and reconciliation, I like to point them to this piece. While Moana is most certainly a Disney film marketed towards young girls, what I love is that the film explores deep themes that are pertinent to our time and resonate across categories. In a world where we are constantly called on to "cancel" everyone who disagrees with us or does us wrong, Moana takes a different approach. Instead, it calls on us to look deeper and to understand how our intentions can also impact those around us. It is also an opportunity for us to explore our relationship with our community, our environment, and one another.
This piece is a timely one. The themes of reconciliation that Moana explores are both literal and metaphorical. The legacy of colonialism and conquest also impacted Polynesian people, and the defamation of their sacred lands is still happening to this day. Climate change, domestic violence, and extreme poverty are still major concerns. So too were the efforts to undermine their right to practice their religion and to divest them of their wealth and prosperity. While Polynesian stories were given the spotlight in this film; and various actors of Polynesian descent were allowed to perform, the fact of the matter remains there is still a long way to go before reconciliation is finally reached. This film does a tremendous job at telling a story that is resounding. It also offers a look at what can be possible if we acknowledge history and its transgressions. The art, music and performance are also breathtaking.
You can watch the trailer here. The film is available on Disney+.
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