Bug has been watching Frozen a lot lately. Every time I see it, I am impressed with the movies depth and complexity. Frozen subverts almost all of the princess movie conventions while at its heart retaining the power of the coming of age/heroic journey tale. It also pulls off the delicate trick of portraying deep sadness without becoming a deeply sad movie.
Two obvious conventions that it subverts are the central villain an the need for a Prince Charming. Frozen has a number of characters who can be seen as villains: the Duke of Weasletown, Hans, and even Elsa. None, however, are the central cause of the conflict in the tale. Hans and the Duke are certainly catalysts. Elsa's power is the proximate cause of the central conflict. However, it is deep sadness and fear that is the true cause of the conflict. The solution is not as simple as getting home or getting kissed or falling in love. It requires a recognition that feelings cannot be suppressed and that trust and love can balance fear and sadness.
Two characters present themselves as Prince Charming, but neither fulfill the role. Hans is the obvious choice. He and Anna appear to have true love. He is dutiful and loyal. His actions, in the beginning, never betray anything but Prince Charming. Hans, however, turns out to be a liar and a schemer. Kristoff, on the other hand, starts off as an oafish bit of comic relief. It is not until late in the movie that Kristoff becomes a stand in for Prince Charming. He may turn out to be Anna's true love and he does strive to deliver the true love kiss that will end the conflict. He is not allowed to succeed and doesn't get the kiss until the conflict is resolved.
The journey at the heart of the movie, while superficially Anna's, is truly Elsa's. She must learn to accept her powers, trust herself, trust her sister, and allow herself to feel: joy, fear, and love. The story shows Anna's journey because it has a physical manifestation. Elsa's journey is more subtle. Ultimately, it is Anna's sacrifice that shows Elsa how to take the final step out of the dark, but it is Elsa who must take the step. At each point in the movie the crisis is driven by Elsa's state of mind. By opening the gates, she is, grudgingly, accepting that the world cannot be shut out forever. Hiding in the mountains gives her the space to experience her inner strength, but only when separate from the world. The final resolution is her accepting both her powers and the world.
Frozen is a masterpiece.
