I would like to dedicate this review to Phyllis Schafly, a woman who tirelessly worked against women's rights from the 1970's to today. Her greatest achievement was seeing the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have made it unconstitutional to discriminate against people based on their sex, fail to be ratified.
Also, she said this about marital rape at Bates College in 2007 (2007, that's less than a decade ago): "By getting married, the woman has consented to sex, and I don't think you can call it rape".
I dedicate this review of Frozen to Schafly in the same way a conquerer might devote a prayer or a thoughtful comment to a defeated foe. Despite Schafly's, and others like her, devotion against gender equality, we live in a culture undeniably influenced by the women's rights (as well as civil rights and gay rights) movements of the past century. We certainly don't live in a utopia where women are 100% equal to men, minorities 100% equal to white people, etc--and we may not live to see that world fully realized--but our understandings of women and men have been radically altered by feminism. And I don't believe it will ever go back to the way it was before.
Just think: even the most conservative Christians have arguments about "complementary" and "egalitarian" marriages. The very fact that there is an argument to be had, and discourse in which to have it, shows feminism's influence. No one but the most blatantly hateful traditionalists would say that women are "less than" men (yes, I know they have a million ways of saying it without REALLY saying it, but the fact that they are muzzled in how they say it shows just how distasteful such a statement would be).
Again, I'm looking at the world--specifically the first world--optimistically. I'm not saying we don't still have a long way to go, but I see feminism, gay rights, civil rights, etc as the "winners" in the context of history.
So what does all this have to do with the Disney film Frozen? Well, to get right to the heart of it, it's a very different and progressive film. Especially given that Disney has a history of male heroes saving damsels in distress with the kiss of "true love". But dammit, y'all, Disney is trying! They gave us a cross-dressing Chinese heroine in Mulan, a (finally!) black princess in The Princess and the Frog, and increasingly active and strong female characters. Frozen continues this trend by subverting the Disney tradition of romantic, heterosexual love being the goal and focus of the story.
Frozen is about two sisters: Elsa and Anna are princesses of Arendelle, an Icelandic (Norwegian? Somewhere up north and really cold) kingdom. Elsa has a secret power to create ice and snow, but is unable to control it. After accidentally hurting her younger sister, Elsa's parents encourage her to repress and hide her powers. Ironically, the more she tries to repress and conceal her gifts, the less control Elsa has (which is pretty much the thesis of the movie).
When Elsa comes of age and take the throne of Arendelle, her powers are revealed. Accused of sorcery, she runs away and isolates herself in an ice palace, relieved to finally stop hiding her abilities. But unfortunately, Elsa's emotions have left Arendelle in a permanent state of winter. Anna must go on a journey to find Elsa and bring her back to the kingdom.
Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled!
When the sisters are reunited, they argue and Elsa once again accidentally strikes Anna with her powers--this time, in the heart. When Anna and Kristoff (the male hero, a mountain man who helps Anna) visit a family of trolls, they reveal that unless she is saved by an act of true love, Anna will end up frozen solid.
This is where the movie gets interesting. Anna assumes she needs to head back to Arendelle to receive a kiss from her suitor, Prince Hans, but when she makes it back she realizes that Hans has imprisoned Elsa and was never in love with Anna at all--merely pretending in order to marry her and then take the throne himself.
Anna and Elsa both escape Hans' clutches and make their way out into a blizzard--Anna is trying to reach Kristoff, whom she now knows is her true love, and Hans chases after Elsa to kill her. When Anna sees Hans about to kill Elsa, she rushes between them and freezes solid, blocking the blow. It is this act of true love--Anna's love for her sister--that saves both of their lives. Anna thaws out, and Elsa realizes that she can control her powers by opening her heart rather than closing it. Anna and Kristoff do kiss in the end, but their relationship isn't the crux of the story.
I found Frozen to be a bit cheesy and obvious. I don't watch a lot of children's movies, so I'm not used to their earnestness. But I couldn't help but be charmed by Frozen and it's message of love and self-acceptance. The film argues that being who you are gives you more power than trying to hide your supposed "flaws". That's a really strong message (there's also a queer reading of the film to be had--take that, Phyllis Schafly!) and goes beyond the traditional "good vs. evil" plot lines of vintage Disney.
Additionally, excellent songs ("Let it Go", "For the First Time in Forever", and "In Summer" were my favorites) and a funny performance by Josh Gad (well, his voice) as Olaf, a snowman brought to life add to the appeal of Frozen. Even though I initially thought the movie was corny and for kids, it has genuinely grown on me.
So, to bring it back to Phyllis Schafly, Frozen reveals how far feminism has come in our culture. It's a Disney movie that allows room for heterosexual romance without making it the focal point of the movie. It shows that sometimes the deepest love of all isn't to be found in romantic partner--but in our family, friends, and in ourselves. It celebrates being who you are--even if you sometimes screw up and hurt others. And it unabashedly portrays a world in which female power is not only tolerated, but embraced. It warms my supposedly man-hating, supposedly humorless (false on both counts!) little feminist heart to know that young girls and boys are seeing this movie and--hopefully--getting the message that finding the prince or princess of your dreams is only one part of the beautiful story that is your life.
4 out of 5 stars
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