Corpse Bride (2005)
Directed by: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
The realm of the living is grey & gloomy as though a perpetual fog hangs in the balance of the world of the mortals. It's apparent that in the realm of the living the mortals have become slaves to routine, a monotonous chain of repetition day in & day out. Nothing really changes.
The Van Dort's hope to escape their lives through a proposed marriage between their son Victor and Victoria daughter of the Everglot's. The patriarch & matriarch of the Everglot's are so dry & dull. They are almost completely lifeless in the mortal realm and carrying quite the secret! Could Victor be their salvation from public shame? I thought it was humorous how even their butler is depicted with his nose up in the air. It's not all dreary in the mortal realm as a spark enters the Everglot estate.
The spark is an impromptu piano solo. It's almost rather poetic how its subtlety calls to Victoria's attention. There they both first meet and therein lies the balance of the mortal realm, true love. Although unexpectedly comes through a piano solo it forms a connection. Reality routinely tests the strength of it through obstacles. The obstacle of nerves and pressure Victor feels is listless. Arriving at the rather "proper" moment is a peculiar Lord Barkis. Adding more pressure to Victor's careless nerves. The prying yet judgmental eyes of his would be "in laws", parents, and audience doesn't help his case of jitters.
It isn't until he's free from their gaze that he is free to his thoughts. He's completely unbound to proprieties that withhold him from who he wants to be. A true version of charisma. While practicing his vows, quite dramatically he hears an "I do." It isn't from his would-be bride but another one that comes forth from the earth! Sprouting free from the broken pieces of her naive nature. She has waited for this moment! Victor bewildered makes a mad dash far away from his new bride a corpse bride! His fears resurface as he has quite figuratively dug himself into quite a hole! Hoping this is all a nightmare and he'd soon awaken to find himself at home he awakens to...
The next world to his surprise is full of life in comparison to the land of the living. The colors in contrast are lively and brighter. There's music that's upbeat and full of swing. There's chatter of friends joining together over a drink! Free of routine and quite frankly full of life!! There is an inexorable air of freedom. There's no routine, schedules to maintain, no responsibilities. Victor afraid that he is eternally bound to the realm of the dead wants some answers! The answers he might be seeking may or may not bring him the solutions he was hoping for. The truth behind the inevitable demise of his blushing bride comes to light and what a tragedy it is. Although, slightly empathetic to Emily he still wants to go back to the world above.
Victor afraid tries to find a way back. His heart belongs to Victoria not Emily his new bride to be. Convinced he finally has found a solution to his predicament he plans to use the guise of bringing Emily to meet his parents in the land of the living. Emily still clinging onto her naive nature trusts in her beau's words. She's completely unaware of his true purpose to return to the land of the living. Before they venture into the land of the living Emily surprised Victor with his pet Scraps who now resides with her in the land of the dead. This of course, doesn't sway Victor's emotions and this doesn't enter his mind when he ventures into the land of the living.
In drastic contrast we arrive with the newlyweds to the land of the living. Just as pale and dull as it was left before. Emily having been perpetually left in a cocoon of darkness finds herself completely revived by the moonlight. Quoting forth one of my personal favorite quotes in films and one I have heavily reference.
Emily sheds a little light to her perspective to all who receive it. Bringing to light the pain she endured in solitary for so long. These words forever immortalized in her dance underneath the moonlight. Feeling completely free and that her suffering has finally drawn to a close. To her dismay she soon finds out she's not quite free yet.
Her love for Victor although inopportune due to circumstances can't be truly received. Victor brings her down to earth and informs her that he will ready his parents for her arrival. As the news to her will be much for them to truly grasp. Victor evades Emily and leaves her there in the very same spot to wait for what she realizes through the voice of her friend reality. Reality in the shape of a Peter Lorre like worm.
During this time Victor runs forth to Victoria but is overcome with joy to once again be in her arms only to suddenly forget what brought him to her in the first place. Emily soon finds Victor completely puzzled wonders why her beloved Victor is with an another. Angry at this realization she sends them both to the land of the dead. Victor completely helpless is carried away from Victoria but not before telling her the truth of his feelings for her.
The sentiment of anger is brought in at the rink side of both Emily and Victor's corners. Emily confused doesn't really grasp the reality that she isn't Victor's bride but a "mistake" as he frankly puts it. She isn't aware of the true nature of their path's meeting but Victor really brings it to light. Now, Emily leaves rather motionlessly to be left with her thoughts as Victor has knocked out whatever wind and spirit of her former self she had left. Victor realizes the error of his perspective but it's too late.
Emily tends to her broken heart and starts to slowly descend into the comfort of her darkness. Ignoring the support from her friends who see her worth. Their words of encouragement might give her the boost and perspective she failed to see in herself for several years. The echoes of doubt and loneliness fill her thoughts with sadness. Not discouraged her friends still try to break through the wall she used to guard herself. They see the true beauty in her heart but still broken Emily comes into terms with her old friend reality.
Speaking of reality...back in the realm of the living Victoria desperately tries to find a way to bring Victor back to her world. Unfortunately, her notions are ill received on the others and are convinced she is stark raving mad! Poor Victoria tries to find a way to be at Victor's side but once again is thwarted by her dear parents. Assuming they have found a solution to their "social embarrassment" they already have proceeded forward with finding a "suitable" suitor for Victoria.
She is betrothed to the ever peculiar Lord Barkis. Her pleas and heartfelt sentiment are ignored on her parents. Meanwhile, the truth behind Lord Barkis' intention on marrying Victoria are kindly heard by the paintings of her ancestors. The ending for Victoria is glum. As disappointment is really her new companion.
Back in the realm of the dead Victor hopes to make peace with Emily but finds her rather frail in a state of catatonia. Once again, a spark is introduced back into the story. The spark again in form of a song. It's almost as Emily bares a piece of her soul into the frame. Victor tries to settle the tension in the air joins her in her solo. For at last their enthusiastic endeavor is connected. It appears as can be that their mutual understanding and demeanor is once again at peace.
The news of a new arrival sets their connection at bay temporarily. The new arrival brings news to Victor that he wasn't quite expecting. Perhaps, this was the news he needed to hear to finally make peace with the world as he knew it. He finds out through his former cabby that Victoria is now married to Lord Barkis.
The news breaks Victor's heart but disappointment isn't quite done yet with the pair. As Emily, is also informed that her beau has a clause to escape their marriage. Eavesdropping Victor hears this news at first Emily considers hiding the truth from him but realizes this isn't the way. Victor steps in and decides to follow through. Seeing as Victoria has moved on so can he.
Excitement and a newfound joy settles in the realm of the dead as a Wedding is in the mist. Finally, their beloved corpse bride will have the wedding she dreamed of! The once tattered remains of Victor's suit are repaired. Emily's heart is now full of joy as the day she waited for has arrived! Off to the land of the living they venture forward but not without their friends! In parallel we see the cake of Victor in Emily's is grand and extravagant!
In comparison to the sad lone cake of Victoria and Lord Barkis really brings to mind the reality of the world up above. The secret of the Everglott's is now exposed and with it reality once again brings Lord Barkis the penniless reality of his greed. The dead reconnect with the living almost simultaneously bringing peace to the world up above. The worlds collide and joy in festive spirit for the wedding taking place. Victoria curious follows the crowd leaving in astonishment one greedy Lord Barkis behind.
There's a light in the cathedral coming from the joy and peace between Victor and Victoria. Suddenly Victor's worries are forgotten and he can properly recite his vows. Emily feels the wedding jitters much like Victor, once she sees in the shadows the true love of Victor looking on.
Emily comes to turns with the bitter truth she's evaded. That she cannot have joy on the misfortunes of others. Confessing to Victor her eternal love for him she decides to set him free and hand his heart back to Victoria.
Unbeknownst to the audience that a deceitful heart is still in the mix. Lord Barkis isn't ready to hand over his new bride to be to Victor. A fight ensues between Victor and Lord Barkis. It feels as if Victor is fighting for the dignities of the two ladies at hand. The fight is stopped once Emily steps in.
Finally, standing strong and full of self respect she asks him to step out. The charlatan Lord Barkis brings to the surface his true identity. The merciless tale of how he stole the trust, heart, dowry, and life of his previous wife. Who was that wife? EMILY!
The audience engulfed as they should be with irritation await patiently for Lord Barkis to throw one last jab at Emily. Not before spewing his poison rather poetically in return! Emily and the audience look on as Lord Barkis has now crossed into the realm of the dead. Trust me, they have been looking forward to this day!
As all accounts set to be in order, Emily looks on peacefully and follows the call to the light. Victor looks on and realizes that he made a promise. Emily in return informs him that he has followed through with his promise he set her free.
Free from the person she was, from the burden she carried, free to love again, free to finally step back into the moonlight. Her love for Victor will always be there but she kindly gives her blessing to Victoria and Victor. For once, her story finally has the peace she was looking for. She materializes into a form of butterflies bringing forth the idea that she was a butterfly all along.
She shed away her cold exterior and darkness of her former self. She was freed from her cocoon when Victor proposed to her. She spent all this time trying to find her true voice. Found it, when she found peace. Peace within herself and knowing that love has finally set her free. Victoria and Victor look on as Emily becomes one with the moonlight.
There were indicators that Emily and Victor would meet, now that I think about it. The only form of color early introduced was coincidentally a blue butterfly. Perhaps, this was Emily calling on her true love Victor in the realm of the living.
Almost like she was calling on him from afar and bringing to full circle her story but destiny intervened and in turn Victor's heart was won over by another.
As you remember in the beginning of the story a piano solo calls to Victoria and a connection is brought to light between both Victoria and Victor. Coincidentally, a piano solo is once again brought into the film by Emily!
Her piano solo connects the thread between the heart of Victor's and hers. As you saw it is once again halted. Whether they were truly meant to be together or not I suppose we won't know. All the what ifs were preserved in favor of having Victor marry Victoria in the end.
It's not all gloom for Emily. Emily finds inner peace and is set free by her true love Victor. She can pass on forward to the next journey leaving behind the ultimate sentiment we often hear. "If you love something so much set it free." Emily does get a happy ending as does Victor and Victoria.
This story is truly poetic and one that has deeply resonated with me since I first saw it. Over the years, I realize more and more about the film. It's a beautiful story so completely underrated and lost. The story of how two broken individuals found peace within themselves. Beautifully illustrated and hauntingly perfect.
Film 9.3/10
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