We saw Disney’s Musafa recently. 5 reflections –
(1) Let’s start with the overwhelmingly positive – the music. Lin-Manuel Miranda should just be on a Disney retainer. Bye Bye, I Always Wanted a Brother, and We Go Together have all become instant “all-time favorites” in our household.
(2) I thought Scar’s story was exceptionally well-told. His arc from savior to proud brother to jealous brother to guilty brother who eventually betrays Mufasa feels both realistic and relatable. Great stories give villains depth – and this one certainly did.
I was reminded of a Dumbledore quote – “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” Scar was always told he was born to be a king. However, as he grew up, his actions made it clear that he didn’t deserve leadership. And that led to resentment.
Rafiki said it beautifully- “Sometimes when the people most like you don’t love you, it is a hurt that can cause the greatest pain, and this pain can lead you to hate everything.”
(3) The story had some powerful notes about leadership. The most important of which is that leadership isn’t a title, it is earned when you care enough to take action to make things better for those around you.
(4) I’m not sold on live action movies. I think some of these dialogs would have had greater impact on animated animals.
(5) Rafiki, as always, was full of wisdom. 3 quotes I loved –
“A flea can trouble a lion more than a lion can trouble a flea.”
“It is easy to doubt everything when you know nothing.“
“Sometimes, a dream is all you have. The only truth that lives in you.”
