Unicorn (Mia Farrow) cannot believe she is the last one. She says, “What do men know?” She sees their thoughts and statements as false. “Men cannot see unicorns.” Their humanity prevents them from identifying something as special and sacred as a unicorn.
Then there are those humans who can see magical creatures. Mommy Fortuna (Angela Lansbury) can see Unicorn and play tricks on people with her magic. She speaks to the fear and curiosity of humans. She show people what they want to see: strange, frightening creatures. The main trait of humanity left in her is greed and selfishness.
On the other hand, Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) uses his magic for good, when it works for him. He strives to protect the innocence and freedom of Unicorn.
Schmendrick has innocence, magic, and humanity. It makes him able to cross between worlds and connect with multiple species. He portrays selflessness and bravery.
Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes) is upset with Unicorn because she did not show up when she was an “innocent young maiden”. She “had been waiting to see a unicorn” her whole life, and because of that, she still has enough innocence left to actually see Unicorn.
Schmendrick changes Unicorn to save her, but he ends up turning her into a human. Unicorn, aka Amalthea, says, “I can feel this body dying all around me.” She has humanity now and feel all the emotions that come with it. She is “afraid of [her] human body”.
As a unicorn, she was “innocent and wise”, but “as a woman, everything is strange.” She feels “lonely” and is forgetting her purpose as a unicorn. While being a human, she is forgetting her innocence.
King Haggard (Christopher Lee) demands to know “why can [he] not see [himself] in [her] eyes?” This is because she still holds on to some of her immortal innocence. However, later she has given in to her humanity, so then he sees himself. He sees his reflection when her soul most closely reflects his own human soul.
The sight of the unicorns beings back a piece of King Haggard’s innocence. He feels like a child again when he looks on the unicorns.
After being turned back into a unicorn, she uses her new found wisdom and emotions from being a human to fight against the Red Bull. She could not have faced him without having experienced humanity and the bravery that comes with it.
“Of all the unicorns, [she] is the only who knows what regret is and love.”
Looking for what establishes immortality is also interesting. Ponder for yourself as you watch!
After watching this movie, most would agree Disney would not make a movie like this. Bitch Flicks hashes out what exact contradictions there are between this movie and the common Disney storylines.
Some interesting insight can be made when looking at some FAQs.
Thanks for reading! Come back next Thursday!