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newportacademy.com - We Need to Talk About Bruno: Trauma in Encanto | Newport Academy

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“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a Lin-Manuel Miranda song from Disney’s animated film Encanto, bumped Adele out of the top spot on the Hot 100 this week. But the movie is grabbing the spotlight not only for its catchy soundtrack but also for the way it sensitively addresses intergenerational trauma. Disney’s first feature with an all-Latinx cast, Encanto tells the story of the Madrigal family, who live in the mountains of Colombia. Each member of the family has their own unique magical gift—except for Mirabel (more on that later). And the psychological archetypes they represent are ringing true to first-generation Americans as well as therapists who treat trauma within families.

Why the Madrigal Family Doesn’t Talk About Bruno

The Madrigals never talk about Bruno (voiced by John Leguizamo). He is shunned by his relatives because of his strange and troubling visions, which always come true. The character appears to symbolize the stigma around mental health issues: While he is never labeled with a specific diagnosis in the film, some viewers have suggested that he has OCD or another type of neurodivergent brain function. The hit song, and the artful visual imagery that accompanies it in the film, reveal that there are buried secrets and pain that threaten the stability of the Madrigal family. Bruno’s prophecies raise troubling issues that the family ignores, by unspoken agreement. Secrecy and silence are hallmarks of intergenerational trauma. Because the trauma is never acknowledged and openly discussed, the family cannot heal—collectively or individually.

What Is Intergenerational Trauma?

Intergenerational trauma is defined as trauma that is passed down from those who directly experience a traumatic event to the generations that come after them. It is also referred to as generational trauma, ancestral trauma, multigenerational trauma, and inherited trauma. Intergenerational trauma can also encompass collective trauma—traumatizing experiences shared by a larger community or cultural, racial, ethnic, or religious population. This type of trauma has an ongoing impact on individual mental health and on the health of family systems. Research shows that intergenerational trauma significantly increases lifetime susceptibility to depression. Studies show it is also a major risk factor for developing mental health disorders such as PTSD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia. Moreover, first-generation children of immigrants are at particularly high risk of experiencing depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Furthermore, epigenetics research is revealing that inherited trauma can actually change how genes are expressed in future generations. Hence, intergenerational trauma appears to be rooted in neurobiology as well as psychology and family dynamics.

Intergenerational Trauma in Encanto

In the film, the character of Abuela Alma experienced acute trauma and traumatic grief as a young woman. Her husband was murdered in front of her and their three young children, and she was forced to flee her home. This experience of loss and displacement is one that many immigrant families and first-generations Americans can relate to. As her children grew up and had their own children, Abuela channeled her unspeakable pain into a passionate determination to protect her family and keep their magic strong. However, that drive sometimes manifests as cruelty and derision, which is often directed at Mirabel, the one family member without a magical power.

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Just as the family won’t talk about Bruno, Alma refuses to face the ways in which her history has influenced her and her relationships with her children and grandchildren. This legacy of trauma also shapes each of her descendants, in different ways. “The same meanness we see from Abuela, I saw from my mom—small moments that add up over time to make you feel small. They’re meant to push you, but they break you instead, and the pain is too much to forgive at times.” —Chicana pop culture critic Kate Sánchez

Intergenerational Trauma and the 7 Inner Child Archetypes

Mental health experts and advocates are drawing parallels between the Madrigal family members and the seven inner child archetypes formulated by psychologist Nicole LaPera. These archetypes include: Caretaker—gains self-worth through nurturing others but often neglects their own self-care Overachiever—believes they can only receive love through success and external achievements Underachiever—attempts to be invisible to avoid criticism and the shame of failing Rescuer/Protector—focuses on helping others as a way to avoid their own vulnerability Life of the Party—never shows pain and tries to make everyone around them happy Yes-Person—always focused on serving others’ needs, while sacrificing their own Hero-Worshipper—looks toward others as a role model rather than listening to their inner wisdom Each of the Encanto characters could be seen as mapping to one of these archetypes. The prankster Camilo, the son of Alma’s daughter Pepa and her husband, Félix, might be the Life of the Party. Or his magical power—shape-shifting—could be a sign of his codependent Yes-Person identity. Quiet, gentle Antonio seems like an Underachiever. Julieta, Mirabel’s mother, is the Caretaker, nurturing her family with her magical ability to cook food that heals. While she supports Mirabel, she is not able to stand up for her against her mother, Alma.

First-Gen Inner Child Archetypes: The Overachiever and the Protector

Two other Encanto characters even more clearly illustrate the effects of ancestral trauma, particularly in the context of first-generation children of immigrants. The beautiful and seemingly perfect Isabel Madrigal is the Overachiever. She embodies the first-gen child who is focused on fulfilling the family’s expectations for success. The message she has received from Abuela is that she must always do more and be more in order to be enough, putting aside her own desires and dreams. Here’s how she expresses it in her song “What Else Can I Do?”:

What could I do if I just knew it didn’t need to be perfect?

It just needed to be? And they’d let me be?

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The super-strong Luisa is the Protector of the family, yet her physical power hides a well of anxiety. In the song “Surface Pressure,” which is close behind “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” on the Hot 100, Luisa (Jessica Darrow) sings about the anxiety and pressure she feels:

Under the surface

I hide my nerves, and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us Like Luisa, Abuela is also a Protector. She is obsessed with keeping the family safe, and doesn’t realize that she is harming them in the process. Mirabel’s Gift: The Courage to Talk About Bruno (and Trauma) and Rebuild the Family At the end of the film, it becomes clear that Mirabel’s gift is the strength to reveal the old wounds and dysfunctional patterns that are destroying the family. She is the only one willing to “talk about Bruno.” Mirabel sees the literal and emotional cracks in the family foundation. And she is brave enough to expose them so the family can begin to heal. Encanto ends with the reconciliation of Mirabel and Abuela. Their home and their family are rebuilt, stronger than before. Unfortunately, intergenerational trauma cannot usually be repaired as quickly and neatly as it is in a Disney movie. In some cases, parents may not realize how inherited trauma is impacting their children’s mental health, particularly if they have not addressed these issues themselves. However, the film illustrates that healing is possible, and that the process begins with unearthing secrets and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.

Treatment for Healing Intergenerational Trauma

Families who watch Encanto with their adolescents can use it as an opportunity to discuss emotions and mental health. Moreover, depending on the age of the children, it can be a jumping-off point for talking about family history and dynamics. In families that have experienced intergenerational trauma, these conversations may be safer and more beneficial when guided by a therapist. In addition, evidence-based techniques like EMDR and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be very effective in healing inherited trauma. Newport Academy’s trauma-informed care for adolescents takes into account each client’s personal and family history, including the experiences of previous generations. We believe that family involvement and family therapy are essential in order for teens to find sustainable recovery from trauma, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Contact us to learn more about our integrated approach to healing.

Communications Biology. 2021; 4: 783.

Global Health. 2016; 12(1): 47.

newportacademy.com - We Need to Talk About Bruno: Trauma in Encanto | Newport Academy

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