The Book of Life (2014)

The Book of Life

When we lose a loved one, we are sad, depressed and at times want to be isolated.  Many times our children are taught by the way we as adults react towards certain circumstances, such as death.  This film, The Book of Life, shows a different aspect of how the Mexican culture celebrate the “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) on November 2nd with vibrant colors. This film is a nice way to show our children and remind ourselves as well, that those who have left us are with us and will not be forgotten.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a 2 day celebration.  It commences on November 1st which is known as “All Saints Day.”  This day is when the souls of the children that have passed are welcomed. The celebration continues on November 2nd, known as “All Souls Day” which is the day when the souls of the adults are welcomed.  Many people celebrate these days by putting up altars decorated with candles, sugar skulls, food and clothes.

The film starts with a school bus arriving at a museum and the tour guide taking the children through a side entrance and teaching them about the Mexican culture of the Day of the Dead.  It is then, where the children learn about The Book of Life.  This book depicts about the two gods of the dead; La Muerte ruler of the land of the Remembered and Xibalba the ruler of the land of the Forgotten and the twist the lives of three childhood friends take after the two gods have a wager.  The story of the three childhood friends caught in a love triangle. There is Manolo a guitarista & matador (guitarist  & bullfighter), his bestfriend Joaquin a brave handsome town hero and Maria the girl they are both in love with.  Maria is a feisty, strong willed, and independent.

The wager comes in play because Xibalba is tired of being in the Land of the Forgotten and wants to trade with La Muerte.  Xibalba bets that Maria will marry Joaquin and La Muerte bets that Maria will marry Manolo.  At a young age all three go in separate ways, Maria is sent off to study abroad to learn how to become and behave like a proper lady. As years pass by, Joaquin joined the forces and becomes the town hero, and Manolo follows his family tradition of being a bullfighter, all while he tries to follow his heart in playing his guitar and become a musician.

On the day of Manolo’s first grand bullfighting, Joaquin arrives to town to wish him well but also because this was the same day Maria returned home. Both, Joaquin and Manolo began to try to win Maia’s love.  Maria is bitten by a snake and is assumed that she dead.   Manolo wishes to see Maria again and he too is bitten but by a two headed snake.  Manolo is then awaken in the Land of the Remembered. In the Land of the Remembered he is reunited with his mother and all his ancestors.  He soon finds out that Maria is not dead and makes a wager of his own with Xibalba for Manolo to regain his life again.  Manolo, ultimately wins the wager is returned to the world of the above, just in time to help the town against the towns bandidos and before Maria marries Joaquin.  Since it is the Day of the Dead, Manolo’s ancestors that have past came above and also helped fight the bandidos.  The bandidos were defeated and they retreated.  Manolo and Maria then marry and live happily ever after.

This movie not only depicts about Mexican culture, it also teaches self worth.  Such as the power of the female gender such as in Maria; she also learned how to defend herself. Manolo stood up for himself and in what he wanted to be, a musician.  Joaquin learned to do his best and be himself, not what everybody else think he is or should be.

Although this movie was well liked: it took Jorge Gutierrez, Mexican director, fourteen years to get this film made.  Jorge Gutierrez told USA Today, “I have been pitching the story and people have been saying, ‘This is cool, but you’re never going to get it made.” He further stated, “To other cultures it might seem dark, but the Day of the Dead is actually a very positive thing.  It’s about joyfully remembering the people no longer with us.”  He and Guillermo del Toro joined forces and brought Gutierrez vision to life.

IMDb link to The Book of Life

16 thoughts on “The Book of Life (2014)

  1. I honestly had never heard of this movie before reading your review. After reading your review though, I’m really interested in seeing it now. It sounds really cute and interesting. I didn’t know that the Dia de los Muertos is a two day celebration. I think this is an important movie for children to see. Children should know that when someone we love dies they still live on in our hearts and they will never be forgotten. It’s good for them to learn and understand that death is a normal part of life and is nothing to fear. I’ve heard people say that the reason that they give their children pets when they are little, is when the pet dies, the parent can then talk to the child and explain death to them. According to your review, it sounds like the movie does a good job of portraying and explaining death. And not only that, it also teaches them self-worth and that a child can be whatever they want to be like Manolo wanting to be a musician. Great review!

  2. I watched this movie at the request of my 10 year old son one rainy Sunday afternoon. Hey, at least it wasn’t Spongebob again! The film was actually pretty surprising in both plot and and a new spin on colorful animation. While most kids movies stick to American values, this movie was rich in Mexican culture and provided an alternative view of death, dying, the afterlife and the family dynamic. Integrating the concept of Xibalba (the Mayan underworld) and making it a character the children can relate with teaches them about other cultures in a fun yet educational way. Jorge Gutierrez really has made leaps and bounds by bringing a bit of Mexican culture into young impressionable minds.

  3. This is one of the movies I had chosen but as one of my last choices, but now I need to watch it! I am glad there is a film which shows what Dia de los Muertos is all about. My family has recently started to celebrate this because we lost some close family members, I love that there is a day to celebrate them. This seems like a very interesting movie. I am happy to see that Jorge Gutierrez is reaching out to a young audience so that they can learn about different cultures. So many times we see the old fairytales of the prince saving the princess and living happily ever after, but it seems this film also shows that life can still be celebrated after death.

  4. Wow, I can not believe this took 14 years to get made. This is one of my favorite movies and actually that comment at the end did cross my mind when I first saw it. I was happy but very surprised that they actually made an animated movie to represent Mexican culture and Dia De Los Muertos, I definitely did not see that fitting into the typical content of children’s movies. I immediately wondered how many moms or certain religious people complained about what it showed and represented. I think it does absolutely teach a great lesson to kids for self worth and for my family it taught some of the little ones about their culture. Not every Mexican-American growing up here is exposed to their Mexican side and since this movie my little cousin wants to go to all of the Day of the Dead festivals every year.

  5. I enjoyed your review of this movie. I’ve heard of this movie but had not idea what it was about. I can’t believe it took 14 years for this movie to be made! That’s amazing how persistence paid off! It also tells a lot about our changing society. Even as recent as fourteen years ago, we didn’t see many TV shows and movies focus on minority groups. Now we’re starting to see a lot more cultural diversity on our TVs and in the theater. It’s awesome that this movie focuses completely on a cultural practice that’s celebrated within the Mexican culture and that it was such a success here in the United States. I’m noticing in recent years the Day of the Dead is becoming more popular here in the U.S. This looks like a really good film and I plan to see it soon. Thanks for the great review!

  6. This is seriously one of the best cartoons I have scene (see what I did there?) in a really long time. Not only was the animation fantastic, but I felt that the plotline was not contrived or overbearing in any way. Though this is technically a kids movie, I feel that it appeals to the youngster in all of us. It brings up refreshing perspective on an old tradition, introducing many people to the origins of Dia de Los Muertos. In all honesty, I did not fully understand exactly what this celebration was about before this movie. The only thing I don’t really understand was the casting decision of Channing Tatum as a lead… it just seemed a little off to me.

  7. I thoroughly enjoyed your blog. I will definitely be watching this film. I am happy it explains Day of the Dead which I want to learn about. This seems like this would be a fun movie to learn about Mexican culture. This movie also should be appealing to children and teach many about the culture. Exposure to different cultures at a young age can make a difference. The colors are phenomenal.

  8. You will enjoy this film. Besides the information it provides about Mexican cultures, it’s the way this film presents the information in such festive and vibrant colors. It produces a nice welcoming feeling in learning/knowing more about the culture.

  9. I agree 100% that this film is a great fit for all ages, not just for kids. This film in my opinion does great work in delivering much information about the culture and traditions of Dia de Los Muertos. The vibrant colors used in this film, just makes it that much more enjoyable.

  10. Yes! This is a great movie for children and adults that would like to learn more about the culture and traditions of Mexico and Dia de Los Muertos. It also communicates a message of our loved ones are never forgotten.

  11. Hi Jessica,
    I went to see this movie at the request of my 4 year old and 10 year old, but I kinda also wanna to see it. I agree that most of the children movies are focused on American values or American fairytales, this film was a nice change and I was in awe with how good the characters and the Mexican culture were portrayed.

  12. Hi Marcy,
    I would recommend this film, I particularly like how it explains how those that have gone before us are still with us. Also shows the importance of the celebration of LIFE. This film also touches base on stereotypes such as in Speedy Gonzalez but in a positive way, for example; the brave and macho boy/guy, the sensitive guy that tries to please everyone, the independent strong willed girl and the parents always thinking they know best for their children. I would definitely put this film on my “to watch” list.

  13. Hello,
    I was surprised when I came across the fact of it taking so loooong too. This film in my opinion, portrays Mexican day of the dead very well. The characters are well selected to show variety of types of families, I believe it represents the different types of people within the same race very well. I also believe providing information about day of the dead through this colorful and cheerful (even though it is about death) animated film is a great method to inform our young/children about the Mexican culture.

  14. When this movie came out I took my daughter to see it because I knew that somewhere in it, it would offer some teaching on the Mexican celebration of the day of the dead. Although often times associated with the Catholic Christian feast days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, The Day of the Dead, unlike All Sould Day and All Saints Day, is composed mainly of pagan elements, meaning not of Christain origin. Reagardless of the elements of the celebration, I wanted to daughter to learn more about this Mexican celebration, its meaning and why it is important to some people. I am glad that this movie that provides a rich lesson on this folk cultural celabartion was targeted toward the younger audience because all too often the movies tailored for that audience are movies with empty plots and meaningless entertainment.

  15. I have never heard of this movie either. I asked my daughter if she had heard of it and she said “that it is super cute”. I am surprised that I never really heard about it before. It is now on my “must see” list. I also am not familiar with the Dia de Los Muertos traditions. In reading the description of this movie I would not be fearful of viewing it with small children, it appears to teach the lesson in an informative and entertaining way.

  16. Hello Zoraida,
    I have not had the opportunity to watch the film, but your review about the movie is fascinating and informative. Maybe I will watch it with my boys over the weekend. It is hard to explain and talk to children about death. I know it is a part of life but painful. I am glad that the mainstream is recognizing the Mexican culture and has a film that portrays death and the celebration of it from the perspective of the Mexican culture. There is also an excellent short film that has a similar message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCQnUuq-TEE. My children viewed the film, and they loved it.

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