Coraline (2009) is a film which depicts a young 11-year old girl called Coraline (Dakota Fanning) who desires more than the monotony of being an only child under a new roof in a place she doesn’t know too much about. From the offset, we become aware of the lack of attention and time Coraline’s parents give her. Her mother is the head of the household, which is indicated through the moment when Coraline wants to explore outside in the rain, her mother says no and her father states, ‘What did the boss say?’
As a pair her parents are consumed by their computers and their work as writers for a gardening magazine. Coraline is left to her devices all too often which leads her mind to question if she feels loved or cared about? The beautifully-crafted animation and whimsical nature of everything from set design to costume and The Cat (who doesn’t have a name by the way) puts you inside a world that holds a deeper meaning.
In the dead of night, Coraline discovers a hidden door which leads her to a fantasy world just like her own. It is better than she could ever imagine where she is greeted with loving family, delicious food, a garden spectacle and warm hues of lighting. The unearthing of this new reality signifies one girls’ attempt to rebel and experience some coming of age. Upon her daily return to the parallel universe within her brick work, the cracks begin to show as it is clear that these ploys of perfection are an attempt to control Coraline.
Coraline’s relationship with her other mother starts out as idyllic and what she believes she wants. As the story develops it seems like her love is rooted in entrapment, obsession and instilled in fear. As an 11-year old she feels empowered to question this type of love which causes the other mother to be stripped back to a figure of evil. The film has a plethora of nuances that could be analysed but her parental relationship travels with us along the duration of the film.
Her discovery that this world is not what it’s made up to be means she has to grow up fast and endeavour on a quest to get her old life back. This journey was reminiscent of a slight loss of naivety which comes with being that age as well as your first taste of standing up to authoritative adults including your parents. As she defies the rules and breaks free from her other world we are welcomed by the first sunny day of her normal life. It feels she has realised that her normality is enough, as her actual mother gifts her the stripy gloves she wanted from a different scene.
Although her parents are not always obvious in acts of love and kindness towards her, there is a subtle but knowing level of it. Coraline takes what she’s learnt and seeks to build a community within her new space. Although the mother-daughter relationship is never fully resolved, the one thing remains that it is complicated-a valued sign of reality felt by a lot of young teen girls.
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