Disney Review: Bambi (1942) is the movie Fantasia wanted to be
Directed by like 9 people
Written by 6 or so
Starring Hardie Albright (Bambi), Stan Alexander (Flower), and Bobette Audrey (Bambi)
Throughout this Disney watch (I'm only 6 or so movies in, but it feels like months), there have been some bumps. Fantasia and Snow White were let downs, to be honest. Pinocchio and Dumbo had some good moments, but overall eh. Then here comes Bambi, thumping along and kicking ass with a coming of age story that explores what we fear most in life.
You think you know the story of Bambi. Little deer born in the Maine woods, loving life until his mom gets got by The Man. But what you forget (you here is me, because I haven't seen this in thirty years or more) is that Bambi the movie follows Bambi the deer throughout his life, from birth to death by fatherhood. Along the way he gets some friends, but what we see is him confronting various fears to become the prince of the forest.
Right away we get visuals of the forest that show this ain't your Pinocchio's animation. The slow pans and gentle music introduce us to the forest on the day of Bambi's birth and continue throughout the film. Right away Bambi's fear matches the soundtrack and images, with rain drumming along as the little deer hides in the thicket with his mom. Right after, we get the meadow and all the silence that comes with that danger. The intention is clear: danger is all around from the sky, the weather, and the outside force of man that continues through winter, his mom getting poached, to the fire that turns the very trees into enemies.
Then we add in Bambi's inner turmoil. Sex and violence intermingle. At first, he's shy around Faline, his future baby momma. Then when they meet as young adults, he's still shy until some other dude come along. Then Bambi has to overcome his fear and kick some ass. While it never feels like he "wins" Faline, she was clearly into him as a fawn, he does prove that he can protect and rise to the occasion against his own fear.
Then there's the combination of his parents. Mom is loving, kind, attentive, and gets shot. Dad feels like he went off to get some smokes one day and just kinda stayed in the office. But when Bambi needs them, they show up and allow him to mature past his fear. Mom in teaching Bambi the ways of the forest and winter and staying alive. Dad with forcing the kid to get off his ass and confront his issues, i.e. you gotta keep going after tragedy and getting shot plus the whole damn place is on fire.
Bambi was a delight from start to finish. What Disney started in Fantasia, setting tonal images to music and marrying the two, is masterful here. With clashing symbols we get lightning and deer fights, highlighting the mirroring between the two. Just one of the best thematic stories.
