Penelope
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Penelope is a film worth watching. A film produced by Reese Witherspoon, it is about a blue-blooded heiress named Penelope (played by Christina Ricci) whose only fault was being born to the Wilhern clan, which was cursed by the town’s witch. As a result of the curse, Penelope was born with a pig snout for her nose and the only thing that would break the spell is when she is loved and accepted by one of her own.
Her parents, scared of how other people would be seen and treated by other people, faked her death. She then grew up in the confines of their mansion until the day came when she had to meet guy of nobility who would love her for what she is. And so the search and the match-making began. But every single guy walked away as soon as they see her face, except for one. But for some reason this guy didn’t want to marry Penelope as well. Thinking that it was hopeless, Penelope ran away and tried to assert her freedom. She went unnoticed for months until one day, she was discovered. Contrary to what her parents thought, the people accepted and embraced her. She became an instant celebrity and she was just adored by everybody. Her mother though, was convinced that people only see her as the “human pig” and are only fascinated because of her peculiarity. Her mother insisted that she marries a blue-blooded guy so that the curse will be broken permanently.
It was then later found out that being loved and accepted by one of her own meant that, by loving herself for what she is, the spell would be broken. And so it was, when she finally admitted to that she loved herself for what she is. Her mother was so dumbfounded with this revelation, that she could have broken the curse a long time ago, if only she had accepted her daughter for what she was.
The guy (my new favorite James McAvoy, Mr. Fawn in Narnia) who liked him but didn’t marry her anyway, on the other hand, didn’t actually marry her because he didn’t come from a noble family and couldn’t possibly break the spell. That’s why he had to let her go and refuse to marry her. In the end, Penelope found out about this and realized that she was capable of being loved despite her appearance and that somebody already loved her even before she ever loved herself.
The film was a feel good movie, a romantic comedy which shows us the importance of self-acceptance despite all our imperfections and flaws. For in the end, as the song says “learning to love yourself, is the greatest love of all.”