Why Two Caterpillars hits so hard
Dos Oruguitas is the peak tearjerker moment. Why? We already saw the basic backstory at the very beginning of the movie. Why does it hurt so much this time?
That first time, Abuela spoke of it like a long ago fairy tale, not a tragedy she carries on her shoulders every day.
This time, we see and finally understand Alma's feelings. She and Pedro weren't lifelong lovers. They were just caterpillars. Alma was just Isabela's age.
Alma is fearful of it happening again, but not really for herself. She's already lost everything before. She fears it happening to Pepa, to Julieta, to Bruno. Can you imagine the relief and pride she felt every morning after their world didn't end, and Pepa was still happily with Felix, and Julieta was still happily with Agustin?
Can you imagine how she felt when she saw Agustin tenderly kiss Julieta's first grey hairs? Can you imagine?
That's why Abuela was so obsessed with making everything perfect for Isabela. She desperately wanted to provide Isabela what she would never have ... what she provided Pepa and Julieta. Sure, it never occured to Abuela Alma that Isabela didn't want that same dream, but is that Abuela's fault? Isabela never gave the slightest hint otherwise.
So when Abuela sees Isabela a mess of colors, she doesn't even understand what she's seeing. She just thinks Isabela is out of control.
But I wonder if Abuela realized, while searching for Mirabel, what she really saw ... a butterfly.
