Line #12 TearJerker/Brave


1	%%
2	%% Image removed via crowner in the Moments Images Cleanup Thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php?crowner_id=zdyg5dsv
3	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1642193091068711500
4	%% Please don't add a new image without discussion in Image Pickin'.
5	%%
6
7	!!Movie
8
9	* In general, how the relationship between Elinor and Merida is. The beginning shows that they were very close to each other. But as Merida grew older, she became more and more of something her mother didn't approve of, while Elinor only wants to sell her daughter in marriage and for Merida to be the humanly impossible perfect ideal she thought she should be, not caring what Merida wants or needs. They can hardly have a proper conversation without getting into an argument.
10	* In what is often cited as the best part of the whole movie, during a huge argument, Elinor throws Merida's treasured bow into the fire. That's what finally causes Merida to suffer a HeroicBSOD and run off. Then, ''after Merida's already gone,'' Elinor suddenly turns and sees the bow in the fireplace...and frantically tries to dig it out but it's too late, the bow's already too burnt. She even bursts into tears and whispers "[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone What have I done?]]" to herself (pictured above), confirming that she has realized that she went ''way'' too far.
11	** The argument itself was pretty heartbreaking. Merida and Elinor tried to work things out with each other and to get one another to see from their point of view, but they're both too stubborn to see the other's side. There's so much negativity stewing between them that all that's left of their once happy relationship is them screaming each other down and running off. ATragedyOfImpulsiveness, indeed.
12	** During the fight Merida screams, "I would rather ''die'' than be like you." to her mother. Words said thoughtlessly in anger? Yes. Teenage emotions coupled with the adolescent propensity to say cruel or harsh things melodramatically? Yes. Words that are, at least at that point, definitely true? ''Yes.'' It doesn't make the expression on Elinor's face any less wrenching.
13	* Merida, realizing how her own actions caused the film's chain of events, tearfully apologizes to her mother after she doesn't immediately turn human after the second sunrise. Becomes heartwarming when she actually does.
14	** What really clinches it is the reprise of "Noble Maiden Fair" being sung softly in the background.
15	** If you look closely, the Lords and their sons, who have so far been around solely for comic relief purposes and acted mostly like brutes, are also clearly tearing up, as are their sons. Especially when Merida whispers, "''I love you''..." to Elinor.
16	** The focus is on Merida and Elinor, but there's also a shot of Fergus just looking sadly down at the triplets. Merida's actions didn't just put Elinor in danger, they almost destroyed three small boys' futures, and tore apart the entire family. Just imagine how things almost turned out.
17	* Merida desperately trying to get out of the tower, only to sink into the ground in despair. It was temporary, but it was horrible to see Merida so broken.
18	* Merida and Elinor's first night in the witch's ruined cottage, where the flashback to her mother singing her a song and holding her close to comfort her not only reminds Merida of all she will lose if she doesn't break the spell, but that far from manipulating her or trying to unfairly control her life, everything Elinor had done was out of love for her. Which Elinor herself had said earlier, albeit [[TwoScenesOneDialogue not to Merida]] [[RuleOfDrama as she should have]].
19	** From the scene mentioned above: "I'm right here. I'll always be right here." Here come the waterworks.
20	* Fergus' reaction to finding what seems to be the remains of a bear attacking his wife. [[MistakenForOwnMurderer Regardless of the fact that it was actually his wife transforming]] ''[[MistakenForOwnMurderer into]]'' [[MistakenForOwnMurderer said bear, you can see the horror and pain on his face when he thinks his wife is dead]] and it's just heartbreaking.
21	* Later, Elinor, [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody when she starts acting like a real bear again]], accidentally hurts not only Merida but also Fergus and snaps out of it and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone looks horrified when she sees what she's done]].
22	* Elinor's reactions to her transformation into a bear. The sheer panic and fear that she was going through. But what made it worse was after Merida and her visit the witch's (now empty) house, where Merida breaks down and admits what she wanted and why she did it. One can see the shock in Elinor's eyes, and its obvious that she's thinking along the lines of; "My own daughter did this to me..." as well as potential confusion as to "why?" she did it.
23	** The sad part is that scene, especially with Elinor stumbling around in panic was treated as comedic effect.
24	* Elinor's big sad, frightened eyes as she realizes she's about to be killed by her own husband. Possibly those eyes are getting to Fergus - along with his daughter's desperate defense of the bear - but the sight of three identical bear cubs is what finally convinces him most of his family has been magically turned into bears.
25	* Mor'du may initially come off as a mindless monster, but as the story progresses, the audience is given contextual clues that hint at how truly tragic a villain he is:
26	** While exploring the ruined castle, Merida finds an ancient stone carving of the noble family that once inhabited it. One of the brothers depicted has been clawed almost beyond recognition; that was Mor'du as a human. While Mor'du seems mindless, it's clear that he retains just enough sentience to remember his crimes as a human and hates himself for it.
27	** Mor'du's attacks on humans may not all have been driven by mindless rage. His current existence is unimaginably horrific because he still manages to remember who he once was; [[AndIMustScream buried deep inside the monster is a human soul longing for an escape]]. [[ICannotSelfTerminate Because of the curse, he cannot simply kill himself]] and thus [[SuicideByCop he seeks out humans to attack in the hope that someone will finally be able to put him out of his misery]].

Context TearJerker / Brave