Plot Summary
Discover the intricate plot of Coco (2017). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.
In the vibrant town of Santa Cecilia, Mexico, the story begins with Imelda Rivera, who once shared her life with a musician that abandoned her and their young daughter Coco to chase musical dreams. Heartbroken, she declared a ban on music within the family and founded a shoe-making business instead. Almost a century later, Miguel, her great-great-grandson and an aspiring musician, resides with Coco and their family. Despite openly defying his grandmother Elena’s prohibition against music, Miguel yearns to emulate the legendary singer and actor Ernesto de la Cruz, a prominent figure from Coco’s past.
When Miguel accidentally damages a treasured photo of Coco with her parents on the family’s ofrenda, he is shocked to discover a torn image of his great-great-grandfather holding Ernesto’s famous guitar. Convinced that this means Ernesto is his ancestor, Miguel decides to seize the opportunity to showcase his talent at the upcoming Day of the Dead talent show. Ignoring his family’s warnings, he sneaks into Ernesto’s mausoleum, takes the guitar for his performance, only to find himself transformed into a ghost that no one can see, except for his loyal dog, Dante, and his skeletal relatives who journey from the Land of the Dead.
As Miguel travels through this enchanting yet perilous afterlife, he learns that removing Imelda’s photograph from the ofrenda cast a curse upon him. If he does not return to the living before sunrise, he risks becoming part of the dead forever. To break the curse, Miguel must obtain a blessing from a family member by using an Aztec marigold petal. Imelda offers him the blessing but makes it clear that he must forsake music when he returns. Miguel defiantly refuses and instead seeks Ernest’s blessing.
During his adventure, Miguel crosses paths with Héctor, a spirited skeleton who once shared a musical bond with Ernesto. In exchange for Miguel’s help in returning Héctor’s photo to the living world, which he hopes will reconnect him with his long-lost daughter, Héctor agrees to assist Miguel in finding Ernesto. However, tensions arise when Miguel evades his relatives and infiltrates Ernesto’s mansion, only to uncover the dark truth about his ancestor—a betrayal that saw Héctor poisoned by Ernesto, who subsequently appropriated his music for fame.
Trapped with Héctor in a cenote pit by Ernesto, Miguel soon realizes that Héctor is, in fact, his true great-great-grandfather, and that Coco is Héctor’s daughter, the last living person who remembers him. With Dante’s transformation into an alebrije, the dead Rivera family races against time to rescue them. Miguel uncovers the tragic truth: Héctor’s return home for Coco led to his demise. Ultimately, a heartfelt reunion unfolds, allowing Imelda and Héctor to reconcile their past.
As they storm Ernesto’s concert at dawn, they work together to unveil Ernesto’s treachery. Ernesto faces his fate when a church bell falls upon him—irony not lost on those who remember the past. As dawn breaks, the threat of oblivion looms over Héctor, who is on the brink of being forgotten by Coco. In an act of unconditional love, Imelda grants Miguel her blessing without strings attached, permitting him to return to the living.
Back in the living world, Miguel serenades Coco with a heartfelt song written by Héctor, rekindling her memories of him. With newfound clarity and connection, Coco presents Miguel with a torn photograph that reveals Héctor’s face. The family reconciles and embraces music once more.
One year later, Miguel proudly displays the family ofrenda—now adorned with photographs of Coco and Hector, alongside a note exposing Ernesto’s deceit. With the community now honoring Héctor, he and Imelda joyfully reunite with Coco in the Land of the Dead, where they are embraced by Miguel’s enchanting melodies, bridging both the living and the departed.
Timeline
Track the key events of Coco (2017) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.
Imelda's Heartbreak
In Santa Cecilia, Mexico, Imelda Rivera's life takes a tragic turn when her musician husband abandons her and their daughter, Coco, to pursue his musical dreams. Heartbroken and betrayed, Imelda declares an end to music in their family and establishes a successful shoe-making business.
Miguel's Aspirations
Almost a century later, Miguel, Imelda's great-great-grandson, dreams of becoming a musician, much to the dismay of his family, particularly his grandmother Elena. Despite the longstanding ban on music imposed by Imelda, Miguel idolizes the legendary singer Ernesto de la Cruz and longs to emulate his success.
The Torn Photograph
Upon accidentally damaging a treasured family photo on the ofrenda, Miguel discovers an image of his great-great-grandfather holding Ernesto's famous guitar. This revelation convinces Miguel that Ernesto is part of his lineage, igniting a strong desire to perform in the upcoming Day of the Dead talent show.
The Talent Show
Determined to showcase his talent, Miguel sneaks into Ernesto's mausoleum and takes the legendary guitar. This fateful decision transforms Miguel into a ghost, visible only to his loyal dog Dante and his skeletal relatives, as he is suddenly thrust into the Land of the Dead.
The Curse
In the Land of the Dead, Miguel learns that removing Imelda's photograph from the ofrenda has placed a curse upon him. To escape and return to the living, Miguel must receive a blessing from a family member using an Aztec marigold petal before sunrise.
Imelda's Offer
Imelda offers Miguel her blessing, but under the condition that he forsake music upon his return. Defiantly, Miguel refuses her terms and instead sets out on a mission to find Ernesto to receive his blessing, which he believes will secure his dream.
Meeting Héctor
During his search, Miguel encounters Héctor, a lively skeleton with a connection to Ernesto through music. Héctor persuades Miguel to help locate his photo in the living world, believing it will reunite him with his long-lost daughter, and offers to aid Miguel in finding Ernesto.
The Dark Truth
Miguel infiltrates Ernesto's mansion and uncovers the painful truth about his ancestor's betrayal. He learns that after Héctor befriended Ernesto, he was poisoned to allow Ernesto to take credit for his music, leading to a painful realization about his family's past.
Revelation in the Cenote
Trapped in a cenote pit alongside Héctor, Miguel discovers that Héctor is, in fact, his true great-great-grandfather and Coco is Héctor's beloved daughter. This revelation deepens Miguel's resolve to honor his family's legacy and reconnect Héctor with Coco.
The Family Reunion
With the help of Dante, now transformed into an alebrije, Miguel and Héctor are rescued by the Rivera family. They uncover the tragic truth of Héctor's demise and begin to foster forgiveness and understanding amongst the family.
Confronting Ernesto
As Miguel and his family confront Ernesto during a concert, they work together to expose his treachery. Ernesto's fate is sealed when a church bell, symbolic of his downfall, falls upon him, highlighting the consequences of his deceitful actions.
Imelda's Blessing
Facing the imminent threat of being forgotten by Coco, Héctor's fate begins to grow precarious. In a moment of unconditional love, Imelda surprising grants Miguel her blessing without any conditions, allowing him to return to the living world.
Miguel's Serenade
Back in the living world, Miguel uses a heartfelt song written by Héctor to rekindle Coco's memories of him. This emotional performance leads to a profound moment of connection and clarity, illuminating the relationships within the family.
Family Reconciliation
With the memory of Héctor reignited in Coco's mind, the family reconciles, warmly embracing music once more. Miguel receives a torn photograph from Coco, revealing Héctor's face, which signifies their restored bond and shared memories.
A Year of Celebration
One year later, Miguel proudly showcases the family ofrenda decorated with photographs of both Coco and Héctor, alongside a note chronicling Ernesto's actions. The community honors Héctor, allowing Imelda, Héctor, and Coco to joyfully reunite in the Land of the Dead, celebrating their family's legacy through music.
Characters
Meet the characters that bring Coco (2017) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.
Miguel
Miguel is a passionate and determined young boy with dreams of becoming a musician. Despite his family's ban on music, he possesses a deep love for it, longing to connect with his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. His journey through the Land of the Dead reveals his courage, resourcefulness, and the profound bond he shares with his ancestors.
Ernesto de la Cruz
Ernesto is a charismatic and well-known musician whose legacy captivates Miguel. Initially seen as a hero, his true nature is revealed to be deceitful and ruthless, as he steals music and betrays those close to him for fame. His character embodies the complexities of fame and the costs of personal ambition.
Héctor
Héctor is a spirited skeleton with a tragic past, bound by his longing for his daughter Coco. His friendship with Miguel offers both comic relief and profound insights into love and loss. As Miguel's true great-great-grandfather, Héctor's story reveals themes of family, betrayal, and redemption.
Imelda Rivera
Imelda is Miguel's great-great-grandmother, a strong-willed woman who once loved music but was heartbroken by her husband's abandonment. Her initial prohibition against music stems from deep personal wounds. Throughout the film, she evolves to recognize the importance of family bonds, ultimately choosing love over grudges.
Setting
Uncover the settings of Coco (2017), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.
Time period
Present day
The movie takes place in the present day, juxtaposing the traditions of the Day of the Dead with contemporary family dynamics. This time period highlights the importance of family heritage and the revival of cultural practices as generations grapple with the concept of remembrance.
Location
Santa Cecilia, Land of the Dead
Santa Cecilia is a vibrant town in Mexico known for its colorful streets and rich tradition. It serves as the backdrop for Miguel's journey, where the art of music once flourished and family bonds are tested. The Land of the Dead is an enchanting yet perilous afterlife filled with skeletal spirits, revealing the connection between life and memory.
Themes
Explore the core themes of Coco (2017). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.
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Music
Music acts as a central theme in 'Coco', symbolizing passion, connection, and legacy. It serves as a bridge between the living and the dead, enabling characters to express themselves and confront their pasts. Miguel's journey showcases the power of music to unite families and preserve memories across generations.
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Family
Family is a pivotal theme in 'Coco', exploring the bonds that tie generations together. The conflict between Miguel's aspirations and his family's traditions highlights the struggle between individual dreams and familial expectations. Ultimately, the film underscores the importance of remembering and honoring family history.
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Remembrance
Remembrance plays a crucial role in 'Coco', illustrating how memories keep loved ones alive in our hearts. The Day of the Dead celebration emphasizes honoring ancestors through storytelling and tradition, revealing that forgetting is the true death. The characters' journeys highlight the necessity of remembering to foster connection and love.
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