Netflix’s Spellbound (2024), a family-friendly fantasy film directed by Vicky Jenson, is not just a magical adventure—it’s also a sensitive exploration of the emotional terrain of divorce, although this is only revealed halfway or so through the movie. While the movie centers on a young girl, Elara, who embarks on a quest to break a spell that has divided her family, it subtly addresses the complexities of family dynamics after separation.
Elara’s journey is sparked by the fractured relationship between her parents, who are both powerful sorcerers. Their once harmonious partnership has fallen apart, leaving Elara to navigate her new reality of divided homes and lingering tension. Rather than portraying divorce as a clear-cut villain or victim narrative, Spellbound presents it as a natural part of life, one that, while painful, can lead to growth and new possibilities.
The film’s magical elements are an allegory for how children often feel like they are caught in an inescapable spell of confusion and sadness when their parents separate. But as Elara learns to harness her own power and confront the complexities of her parents’ fractured bond, she discovers that healing is possible—both for herself and her family.
In this way, Spellbound offers a nuanced, hopeful message about resilience and the importance of self-empowerment, love, and showing young audiences that while life can be full of unexpected changes, there’s always a path forward—sometimes with a little bit of magic.
