They're clearly arguing, too - either about how Fa Zhou raised his voice to Mulan or her begging him not to go. Before Mulan leaves, she can see the silhouettes of her parents in the window.Sometimes, tough love is the way to go, especially if the family's honor or very lives are at stake. Mulan just embarrassed a war hero in front of someone who reports directly to the Emperor. Whether you think he's being a good parent at this point is a bit YMMV.Also, when you think about it, that was the last thing he said to Mulan before she ran away, so on top of worrying whether she'd die, there's also quite a lot of guilt. What makes this even sadder is that, normally, Fa Zhou seems really kind and caring towards his daughter, so it was very jarring to see him shout at her. When Mulan is trying to tell her father he'll be killed if he goes to war, and he, frustrated, shouts at her to learn her place, causing her to run outside and cry privately. Right then and there, both Mulan and the audience know that honor is going to send this brave and decent man to certain death. For a few seconds, he looks like a total badass, until he collapses to the floor as an old war injury acts up, betraying him. Mulan watching her father practice with his sword.And that's if he managed to get through training at all. The worst part is, she's right! He IS too old to fight, and would likely not only get himself killed, but likely a comrade or two as well if they had to try and protect him.Though she's doing it from a place of love, she IS basically saying to all the world "My war hero of a father is too old and decrepit to fight." To an honourable and proud man, that must sting. The very real, if concealed, anguish in Fa Zhou's voice when he responds to Mulan begging for him to be spared the conscription order.His face falls when he sees this, not liking seeing his daughter upset. Her father comes out to greet her, and she is so ashamed of her failures she hides her face behind Khan so he can't look at her. Just after the disaster with the matchmaker, Mulan returns home.Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? / Why is my reflection someone I don't know? The lines, I will never pass for a perfect bride, or a perfect daughter.The fact that your family are the people who you should feel most comfortable with just makes this line heartbreaking. For many people, they feel they wouldn't have much problem with society knowing their secrets it's allowing their family to see them for who they truly are that terrifies them. Made even worse by this line in the movie: "Now I see that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart". That horrible, horrible sense of being a disappointment, of feeling false and wrong and ill-fitted to what roles your family desperately needs you to fill? Uh, yeah, it hasn't gotten less familiar over time. Mulan's forlorn expression as she takes this ruling in, with her mother and grandmother doing what little they can to comfort her.Matchmaker: You are a DISGRACE! (Smashes teapot) You may look like a bride, but you will NEVER bring your family honor!
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