a person you never were
to be something I'm not.Encanto · 2021 — Chapter 17 of 19 · 5'41" · B1
Abuela Apologizes to Mirabel, Explained: lose sight of
At the river where the miracle began, Abuela finally apologizes to Mirabel. She admits she was so afraid of losing the magic that she lost sight of whom it was for, and tells her granddaughter that the family and the miracle exist because of her.
What happens
Abuela leads Mirabel back to the river where the miracle was given and where Pedro was lost. She apologizes for being so afraid of losing the magic that she lost sight of what it was for, and admits the family broke because of her. Then she tells Mirabel that they were saved, and are a family, because of her.
Listen for
lose sight ofa second chancegrow apartnever been able to
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Phrase of the scene
lose sight of
forget what actually mattered
Abuela admits fear of losing the miracle made her forget who it was for.
Don't lose sight of why the deadline existed.
Also in this scene
- a second chance
another shot at living
- grow apart
separate so you can change
- never been able to
could never bring yourself to
- miracle
the family's granted gift
- because of you
all because of you
Everything marked in this scene
30 notes across 67 lines
could never bring yourself to
First time she can stand at the river where Pedro died.
I've never been able to come back here.present perfect
I've never been able to come back here.the gift was granted here miracle = the family's enchanted candle
This river is where we were given our miracle.where-clause
This river is where we were given our miracle.another kind of life
I thought we would have a different life.someone else entirely
I thought I would be a different woman.hold one another
As they hold each other with warmth and consentseparate so you can change
The caterpillars have to let go before they can become butterflies.
You must grow apart and returnhow you go on
That's the way forwardbuild the life ahead yourself
And construct your own futurewrapped tight together
All bundled upanother shot at living
She treats the river miracle as a second life she then clenched too tight.
A second chance.terrified of losing it
And I was so afraid to lose itforgot what actually mattered literal: stopped seeing; here: forgot who the miracle was for
that I lost sight of who our miracle was for.wh-clause
that I lost sight of who our miracle was for.all my doing
because of me.by herself
You suffered so much, all alone,make sure it never repeats
so it would never happen again.purpose clause
so it would never happen again.all because of you
Mirabel hits it three times: they lived, they got the gift, they became a family.
We were saved because of you.mend it as a pair
And nothing could ever be broken that we can't fix... together.relative clause
And nothing could ever be broken that we can't fix... together.weak form
elision
weak form
liaison
stress
weak form
stress
Abuela Apologizes to Mirabel, explained
What's really going on
Standing at the river where the miracle was given and where Pedro was lost, Abuela finally tells Mirabel the truth she has never said out loud. She admits she could never come back here, and that she once imagined a different life and a different self. Then comes the confession the whole film has been circling: fear of losing the magic made her lose sight of the people it was for, and the house broke because of her, not Mirabel. What she gives next is something the family never gave Mirabel — credit. She repeats it: "We are a family, because of you." That line turns an old demand inside out, and the promise that nothing broken cannot be fixed together is what the ending builds on.
Theme
Family loveAbuela's apology reframes the miracle as a gift for the family, and credits Mirabel with holding that family together.
RedemptionThe grandmother admits her fear broke the family, and the scene lets her earn forgiveness by finally seeing Mirabel.
Listen for
- I'm sorry — weak form
- I've never been able — elision
- would be a different — weak form
- lost sight of who — liaison
I thought I would be a different woman.Abuela's admission that she once imagined a different life for herself, before fear and duty reshaped her.
that I lost sight of who our miracle was for.Her central confession: in trying to protect the miracle, she forgot it existed for the people, not the other way around.
We are a family, because of you.The line that reverses a lifetime of blame, crediting Mirabel with the family's survival and unity.
And nothing could ever be broken that we can't fix... together.The reconciliation's promise: whatever the family has broken can be mended if they do it as a family.
Questions about this scene
Why does Abuela apologize to Mirabel?
She realizes that her fear of losing the magic made her lose sight of the family, and that the house broke because of her, not Mirabel.
Where does the apology take place?
At the river where the miracle was given and where Abuelo Pedro died, a place Abuela says she has never been able to return to.
Why does Abuela say the family exists because of Mirabel?
Because Mirabel is the one who kept the family together when it was falling apart, so Abuela credits her instead of blaming her for the break.
Why was Abuela so afraid of losing the miracle?
The miracle was her second chance after losing Pedro, so she clung to it and tried to control the family. In this scene she admits that fear made her lose sight of the people the magic was for.
How does the family rebuild after the house falls?
The reconciliation at the river becomes the turning point, and the promise that nothing broken cannot be fixed together leads into the rebuilding of the casita.
Encanto · 19 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 18want to helpBruno Defends Mirabel
Chapter 1in our darkest momentAbuela Tells Mirabel the Miracle Story
Chapter 2Between you and meMirabel Introduces the Madrigals
Chapter 3step asideMirabel Told to Step Aside
Chapter 4all to myselfMirabel Comforts Antonio Before His Gift
Chapter 5step into the lightAntonio's Gift Ceremony
Chapter 6move the mountainsMirabel Sings Waiting on a Miracle
Chapter 7all in my headAbuela Denies the Cracks
Chapter 8worth a shotMirabel Asks Dolores About the Magic
Chapter 9under the surfaceLuisa Sings Surface Pressure
Chapter 10a heavy liftWe Don't Talk About Bruno
Chapter 11Fix your faceThe Proposal Dinner Falls Apart
Chapter 12assume the worstMirabel Finds Bruno Behind the Walls
Chapter 13get a bad rapMirabel Reenters Bruno's Vision
Chapter 14hug it outMirabel and Isabela Hug It Out
Chapter 15good enoughAbuela Blames Mirabel for the Miracle
Chapter 16let me help youThe Family Searches for Mirabel
Watching · Chapter 17lose sight ofAbuela Apologizes to Mirabel
Chapter 18want to helpBruno Defends Mirabel
Chapter 19take after someoneThe Madrigals Rebuild CasitaChapter 17 of 19 · about 6 min to go