Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one’s destiny intertwines with many others. It’s the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led. – Merida, Brave
She’s passionate and unbridled…courageous and headstrong. Her personality is as vibrant as her untamed red locks…and she’s winning the hearts of young and old in Disney/Pixar’s latest release, Brave. From the moment Princess Merida rides through the Scottish forest shooting (and nailing) targets she’s set up while riding her trusted steed (and friend) Angus, I knew she would be a role model for young girls. When she climbs the vertical jagged rock (Crone’s Tooth) to drink from The Fire Falls, I resolved to have some degree of the fortitude she displayed. And when she proclaims that she will shoot for her own hand in marriage, shooting an arrow through the arrow shot by one of the suitors, I forged a new sense of admiration for the impetuous teen.
As I sat down in roundtable interviews with some of the talent and filmmakers from Brave, I longed to hear from Kelly MacDonald who voices the Scottish princess. “Merida is not your typical heroine,” MacDonald stated. Unlike most Disney films, Merida isn’t looking for love and there is no Prince to save her from her plight. MacDonald felt “quite proud to be the voice of Pixar’s first female protagonist,” despite the fact that she wasn’t aware of this when she accepted the role. MacDonald enjoyed voicing Merida and channeled her inner teenager by “[pretending] her mom was in the room.” “Nothing winds you up like your parents.”
As is the case with most teens, Merida rebels. But as a princess, her rebellion has a ripple effect, not only on her family, but on the kingdom. MacDonald hopes that audiences will recognize that there is a softness to Merida. “She acknowledges she’s made mistakes and sets out to try and repair the damage she’s done. And she apologizes…and that’s a big thing” (MacDonald).
Unbeknownst to many, MacDonald was not the original voice cast for the role of Merida. But MacDonald brings both authenticity and heart to the film. “MacDonald is the soul of the character and she makes Merida truly appealing (Director Mark Andrews).” She is “alive and vibrant with a great charm, wit and quirkiness that totally works for Merida.”
One of my favorite scenes in the film just happens to be the same one MacDonald favors. There is a montage where Merida sees her mother in a different light, and I love how there roles are, in essence, reversed. There is a tenderness about the scene…and it’s at that point where Merida and her mother begin to strengthen their bond.
Brave is in theaters now!
No compensation was received for this post. Travel expenses associated with the event were provided by Disney.
Photos Disney/Pixar.
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