Alma before the gifts

There were 5 years between Pedro’s death and the triplets getting their gifts. Can we talk about that?

She just lost her home and the love of her life, left with her babies, a community, and a magical house. She didn’t do anything to earn her magical house…Pedro did. So she decides to prove to her community that she deserves her magical house.

She becomes selfless. She cooks meals for the sick and the ones who have new babies. She helps load and unload carts, makes deliveries, and makes herself as useful as possible to the community. Everyone knows Alma and loves her, not just because she got Casita, but because she is the kind of person who would do anything for anyone.

Including her kids. She teaches Julieta to cook. She reads stories to Pepa. Bruno is a daredevil toddler, and to him she says things like “Get down from there, you’ll fall and hurt yourself.” When he ignores her and the inevitable happens, he is amazed that she knew what would happen.

They go with her about town, and watch her give of her time to the community. They learn to help, in the little ways that kids like to do. A grownup hands Bruno a little box to stack while they’re unloading. Julieta hands the meal to the household while Alma stands back and smiles. Pepa picks wildflower bouquets for the ladies in town.

They make their mama proud.

And then the gifts come. And now when Julieta and Alma cook together, it’s not about just them anymore. When Alma reads to Pepa, the rain clouds at the sad parts start to ruin the books, and neither of them are enjoying it anymore. And of course, Bruno realizes that his mom doesn’t always know everything.

But, sticking together and helping the community? It’s what they do. It’s who they are, they’re the Madrigals. So Julieta cooks and heals illness and injury. Pepa learns to manage her emotions to help the rain and the sun come in their turns to help the crops grow. And Bruno…well, Bruno does what he can. Alma can already see him struggling to be as useful as his sisters, and she tells him that it will be okay, she loves him no matter what.

I think it’s a bit of a shame that those early years are a bit glossed over in the movie. Obviously the event of Pedro’s death was of huge significance, but I think those years that followed also shaped who Alma would become for the events of the film.