Article: Family Dynamics in MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie for MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

The relationship between a mother and daughter is always an interesting one. But when the mother is Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), and the daughter is Aurora (Elle Fanning), well, that’s a whole different kind of interesting. Add in another mother, Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) and you have three very different women who ultimately have the same goal: to protect what’s theirs. I got to attend the MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL press junket in Los Angeles and was treated to getting to hear these world-class actresses talk about their thoughts and feelings on their characters and the film world they live in.

When asked to speak about the different kinds of power each of the woman has, Michelle Pfeiffer said, “One of the things we love about Aurora’s character is that she is, ultimately, the strongest and the wisest of all of us … my character is really brilliant and diabolical but I wouldn’t describe her as terribly wise.”

Harris Dickinson is Prince Phillip, Elle Fanning is Aurora, Robert Lindsay is King John and Michelle Pfeiffer is Queen Ingrith in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL | Photo credit: Jaap Buitendijk

“I think Aurora symbolizes the good and the kindness in the world,” said Elle Fanning and that she’s glad the film portrays the character as strong and powerful in her tenderness. In her words, “A lot of films would put her in armor … and that makes her strong and that’s not Aurora’s true nature.” She went on the say that she’s always been “very feminine and there’s nothing wrong with that. And we get to show the strength in accepting your femininity, and she does it in a pink dress!”

Angelina Jolie was asked what the movie says about family, in which she stated, “[in the movie] people tell us because you’re not the same, you’re not family. Because you’re not exactly like her, you’re not her mother. And that certainly strikes a chord with me”. She later continued, “Diversity makes us stronger … and we have to come together. So, we do that in the film with the humans, the creatures, and the moorfolk coming together. We do that as a family. And we fight against this separation. We unite and say this is the world we choose to live in”.

Elle Fanning is Aurora, Angelina Jolie is Maleficent and Sam Riley is Diaval in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL | Photo credit: Jaap Buitendijk

Talking about the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora, she mentions how “they’re different creatures, but Maleficent sees Aurora exactly as she is, and doesn’t want her to be any different than she is. And how Aurora sees her and accepts her for who she is.” She goes on to say that “diversity makes us stronger,” and that the message that she hopes people take away from their relationship is to “be yourself, be your true self. We don’t live forever. Say to children it doesn’t matter how people say you should be. You can’t live like that, you’ll suffocate.” It’s an important lesson, one that’s super relevant in today’s world, and putting something like that in this kind of movie, where mothers and daughters will see it together, is a great thing.

I saw MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL a few weeks ago and walked out smiling and loving the women of this film. And now I can’t wait to watch the movie again this weekend with a greater understanding of what drives our leading ladies. MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL arrives in theaters October 18, 2019 and you can read our review here.