MovieChat Forums > Encanto (2021) Discussion > Time period?

Time period?

posted 3 years ago by Tadnotchadnottod (12)
8 replies | jump to latest

We are never explicitly told what year Alma and her family arrived in town, only that around 50 years had passed before the story took place. I've seen various sources suggest the 1940s or 1950s, but the clothing and architecture and occasionally even the dialogue seem to imply older period. I don't remember seeing a single car in the film, and if the film took place in modern times certainly Isabela would have been taking selfies nonstop. So, what period would you guess? I suppose it's one of those "timeless" films, where the story is more important than having a consistent period. That said I loved it, definitely one of the best things Disney has done since Zootopia. Almost makes me forgive them for Frozen 2, lol. At times it felt like a Pixar film. I had to keep reminding myself it wasn't.

[–] Furienna (3342) 3 years ago

Yeah, that is what I wonder as well.
But my guess would also be the mid-20th century (not too long ago, but not really modern times either).

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

It's.... magic time!

[–] jekporkins (1970) 3 years ago

I just watched it and wondered the same thing. I didn't see cars, no electricity, and the cameras looked like those old Victorian ones. The guys who killed the grandfather I believe had swords, no guns, but pulling that out of the equation I'd guess sometime in the late 1800s.

[–] Furienna (3342) 3 years ago

No, I don't believe that it is as far back as that.
Except I guess that Alma's short happy time with Pedro and his tragic death were in the late 1800s/early 1900s.

It is true that the camera looks old and that they have no cars and probably no electricity either.
But at the same time, they seem to know about game shows and telenovelas.
Sure, it is true that Bruno who can see the future also happens to be the only one to talk about those things.
But it would be out of character for him to have a vision just to have a look at future home entertainment.
And also, Mirabel is not as confused by him talking about it as she would have been if TV wasn't invented yet.
But it would be weird that they know about game shows and telenovelas if they don't have TV sets.
They don't seem to even have radios, but Bruno has an old-looking gramophone.
Meanwhile, Mirabel's line about Antonio's present self-destructing is maybe a reference to 1960s popular culture.
So you can't really tell from the movie itself what the time period is supposed to be...

So what I think is that the OP is right about that the creators were going for a timeless feel.
Thus, I would say that trying to pinpoint the exact time period (beyond it being in the 20th century) is futile.
Furthermore, this story is set in a very isolated valley.
So that is yet another reason why these people might be behind on technology, for example.

[–] Furienna (3342) 3 years ago

Okay, we now have some new information.
It is now revealed by Jared Bush that the triplets and the miracle were born on October 17th.
The year of their birth is not specified yet, so there is still room for speculation.
But it's clear that the birthday must be a reference to that the 1000 days war started on October 17th 1899.
Most of the "Encanto" birthdays seem to be references to significant dates in Colombian history or culture.
And if the triplets and the miracle were born in 1899, most of the movie must take place in 1949 or 1950.

[–] Furienna (3342) 2 years ago

Okay, it is now confirmed that it takes place around 1950.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14381) 2 years ago

The problem with trying to figure out time periods in a place like Latin America, is the fact that the people down there tend to cling hard to the past, while only allowing a few bits and pieces of the modern world in over the past 100 years. You'll see people in traditional clothing, but driving modern cars, or they have a few modern items in their homes at the same time. You'll see cars from multiple past eras as well, because some people can't afford the newest model all the time, and many people south of the border are very mechanically inclined simply for that reason.

The only way to truly tell what year it is, is to ask someone. Otherwise you'll have no idea. It's possible the movie-makers did this on purpose to create a "timeless" story. I've seen it in many films, where they throw together aspects of several time periods to create a unique world that doesn't really exist in reality. Good examples would be "Batman the Animated Series," "Mouse Hunt," and "Penelope."

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Yeah, the story opens in a rural village, where the villagers didn't have access to modern consumer goods, and then moves to a valley where the outside world has been shut out for 50 years, and where people rely on magic rather than technology.

It might have taken place at almost any time in the last 200 years, and that's deliberate. It's meant to feel timeless and removed from the modern world.