Francisco Gonima

WOW! My familia has been anxiously waiting to see Encanto on opening night, and it DID NOT disappoint. As Colombianos, the richness, poetry, resilience, and beauty of our cultura is rarely what’s depicted in mainstream TV and film. What is is usually bigoted, inaccurate and hurtful stereotype. NOW for the first time, we got to see our heritage lifted up and celebrated through the uniquely elaborate lens of Disney, and it was healing ❤️‍🩹. The lengths that Lin Manuel Miranda and his team went to in forming the Colombian Cultural Trust, a committee of Colombian writers, artists, musicians, botanists, etc, was evident in the million tiny details that only a paisano would spot and be delighted by. It was like Easter egg after Easter egg of little touches that reminded me of childhood visiting my abuelas in Bogota and my tias in Boyaca. Impeccable! Not only that, even the poetry of the plot itself was authentic to the creativity, cariño, determination and passion that is intrinsic to our culture while also complicating it with the shadows of intensity, self-consciousness and demanding family expectations that are also part of who we are. Can you ugly cry and happy cry at the same time? I sure did. Last night I saw a theater full of people who got to see a little magical piece of Colombia through the eyes that we see it with- beautiful, musical, passionate and complicated. We are all of that and I deeply hope that anyone reading this will go see it in the theater for themselves to get the full experience. We need to show the world that audiences are hungry and ready for narratives that celebrate the many corners of the world that until now have been so terribly misrepresented. The story is uniquely Colombian while also being entirely universal and relatable at the same time. I guarantee that you will recognize yourself in at least one of the characters and their relationships. Viva Colombia! Viva familia! And thank you Disney and Lin Manuel for showing such tender care with our beloved cultura 🙏🏽 🇨🇴 ❤️