Mermaid’s tale

Ariel is back

Film feature by Claire

Brine

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THE seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake – which is why Ariel is longing for another kind of life in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, scheduled to be released at cinemas next Friday (26 May).

In the 1989 animated musical, young mermaid Ariel is fed up with living under the sea and dreams of adventure on the land above. When she makes a secret trip to the ocean’s surface, she falls in love with a handsome prince – and wonders if he could love her in return.

Following her heart, Ariel seeks help from the sea witch Ursula, who offers to turn her into a human so that she can stand a chance of bagging her man. But it’s a risky deal. In exchange for human legs, Ariel must give up her beautiful voice. And if the prince doesn’t kiss her within three days, she will turn back into a mermaid and be Ursula’s prisoner for ever.

She took matters into her own hands

Reflecting on the film’s storyline, Disney animator Mark Henn – who animated Ariel in the cartoon – once told the War Cry why the character represented a significant moment in Disney history.

‘In the early films – such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella – the leading ladies were a lot more reactionary,’ he said. ‘Things happened to them, they felt woeful and then dwarfs or mice came along to help them out. But with The Little Mermaid that traditional model began to change. When things happened to the character of Ariel, she took matters into her own hands.’

Perhaps Ariel’s response – her need to do something about her problems – is one we can identify with. We may know the frustration of things happening to us that we wouldn’t choose. Real life rarely goes swimmingly.

But, while some situations are beyond our control, our response isn’t. We have choices. And one choice we can make is to seek God’s help. No matter how hopeless we may feel, we can ask him for his strength and support. We can allow his love to transform us.

In situations that we don’t know how to change, God can always change us. When we invite him to be part of our world, we are on the brink of a whole new adventure.