Frozen and the Love of God

In the new Disney movie, Frozen, two orphaned princesses contrast each other in their response to some of life's mysteries.  This movie is in my estimation one of Disney's finest hours, and I find myself most often to be a huge Disney critic.  Not this time!  What I enjoy most about this film is the very same thing I enjoyed about the movie Cars....the message.  Without giving the story away, I was blown away at the clearest message of love being the selfless act of humility in the form of sacrifice.

In the movie Cars, Lightning McQueen purposely finishes dead last in the biggest race of his life.  In finishing last, he let's the antagonist finish first, and pushes the King (the car brutally knocked out of the race by the bad guy) across the finish line.  As he crosses the finish line, the King (played by Richard Petty) tells Lightning that he just gave up the piston cup (his life-long dream).  To this, McQueen responds, "It's just an empty cup."  LOVE IT!

In similar fashion, Frozen crosses a different finish line.  Princess Ana can only be saved by an act of true love, and everyone in her unusually snow-covered world is convinced she needs the kiss of a prince.  After all, that is what we have all been told is the act of true love, right?  Instead, THE act of true love comes from a most surprising place.  I do not want to give away the ending, but I will say that this story serves as one of Disney's greatest stories.  And what is my criteria for a "great" story?  Well, if a story, regardless of how fantastical, conveys the most important realities of life in a fashion that causes the audience to be challenged to live a life of Christ-like love and selflessness, then that is a great story.  I don't mind a bit if my kids watch this one over and over again.

I'm a bit of a literary nerd, and Ashley has to put up with me at times when it comes to this.  I cannot help but take in all the metaphors and imagery in stories and movies.  Frozen is absolutely filled with literary tools that Disney does very well.  Just listen to some of the names of the characters - Christoph (sounds a lot like Christ to me), Ana (much like her name, this princess experiences a sort of resurrection as a result of laying down her life for an undeserving sister).  Interestingly enough it is these two that work together more than any other in the film.

The cold heart of Princess Elsa and her journey in figuring out the ins and outs of her special gift is a very important metaphor in the story.  Instead of hiding and concealing a gift (which is often called a curse) Elsa learns in the end how to best use her gift.  The coldness of her heart ends up trapping her in a self-made castle of fear and pain.  This castle is absolutely elaborate!  At the same time it is deadly, and almost takes her sister's life.

I give this movie my blessing and hope that everyone who watches learns this....."greater love has no man this, that he lay down his life for a friend." John 15:13  AND  "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

Good job, Disney!