Y Tu Mama Tambien

I have thought about what to put in my blog for 2 days now and I am still unsure how to approach this film.
It is not that I am so naive that I haven't watched films similar to this, or that nudity or drug use in films offends me. It is that it is not what I would have chosen, if given the choice. I did not feel like the nudity, or sex scenes were necessary to get the point acrossed. The point being
that teenagers need guidance and love and family in order to have and understand social and family values. When these things go missing for so long children look to other people or things to comensate what they are missing.
These boy could have been teens from any country. Tenoch's family is wealthy. It appears the housekeeper has basically raised him, and everything he could ever want is at his fingertips. While Julio's family is obviously less fortunate and many things are not so readily available for him. Julio shares a car with his family, where as Tenoch's father has given him a car, but then takes it away from him when he refuses to take a class. This could be any 2 average teens here in America.
Luisa, Tenoch's cousin's wife, seemed to be very elegant at the wedding. So for her to turn out to act the way she does with the boy kind of confused me. I get that she received bad news from the doctor, and that while she is angry with her husbands affairs, she still wants to save his feelings and spare him from learning of her illness. Her behavior with 2 boys is disappointing at the very least.
This film definitely shows another angle of Hispanic culture, one that I would not be proud to show, but realistically it could be any ethnic culture depicted.

El Viaje de Carol

I have to admit I was less than thrilled to watch this movie without subtitles, but amazed at how much I was able to understand without them.
Carol was such a great character. Her story was worth telling. Her maternal grandparents living so far away and not having a close relationship with them. Then to be thrown into living in a foreign country, though she spoke the language wonderfully, because her father was fighting in the war. Only then to lose her mother too, and then in the end her best friend as well.
She definitely represented the cold climate with her behaviors. She was not willing to conform to the society's ways, she was not afraid to fight for her things, her diary, her hat. She had a wonderful spirit and lived true to it.
I thought she handled every situation in stride. She developed a wonderful relationship with her grandfatherm and he with her. I would have enjoyed understanding their conversation, in particular the one when he goes out looking for her only to find her high in the tree. Surely not where he expected her to be.
Would have enjoyed this movie with subtitles.

Volver

WOW! I really liked this movie! Each woman in this movie played such a different personality, and yet they all twined together needing each other.
Raimunda had the unthinkable happen to her during her childhood, being sexually abused by her own father and then having to bear his child. And raising that child with such love and caring, she is truley amazing.
Her sister, afraid of her own shadow, relies on Raimunda to help her get through her family life. Yet she is intelligent as is shown by her running her own beauty shop from her home. I love that she is the one her mother decides to confide in considering she is terrified of 'dead' people.
Her mother is quite the funny character. When she was hiding in the trunk of the car and agrees she is her own ghost, just so her daughter will let her out, that was priceless. She has gone through her own hell, having her husband cheat on her with her own friend, and then learning of him sexually abusing Raimunda, and that her grandaughter was fathered by her cheating husband. How courageous of her to take this matter into her own hands by burning down the cottage with him and his lover inside, and then how smart to play her own ghost. Thus allowing her to care for her sister and know her daughters are well.
The friend who is diagnosed with cancer and her desire, to find out the truth about her mother, that drives her to continue on in life. All the while she cares for her neighbor, the ailing aunt of her friends. She was such a kind womanand unselfish woman.
Last but not least, Raimunda's neighbors, they plain and simple brought comedy to the film, and yet it was clear they struggled to make a living.
Great movie, hope the remaining films are as good.

Guantanamera

This movie begins with 2 women, Gina and her Aunt, in a car driving through the streets of an apparent run down city. The aunt has obviously been gone for a while based on their conversation noting the changes since she last saw it, and she also mentions names of people who have abandoned their homes.
Also in then beginning we see a meeting taking place where a group of people are unable to agree on what appears to be a very hot topic. As we learn from their arguing, this group of people is trying to decide where a person should be buried when they die assuming they die in a part of the country they are not from. Adolfo, comes up with a plan that he will soon put to the test and because he is 'Macho' he is of course sure this is the best and only way to handle these situations.
The Cuban culture is represented through family and friends connections. When Gina's aunt passes she and Adolfo and her aunt's true love together accompany her body to it's final resting place, Havanah. Along the road many interesting things are noted, common items being sold along the streets. A woman in labor needing assistance to a hospital. Gina runs into a man who was once her student, and coincidentally loved her and told her in a note.
After reading a few blogs I am surprised to see no reference to the little girl 'death' that followed along in this movie. Who was she and did she have any connection to this family?

The Official Story

I really liked this movie, but I think it should be titled "The To Be Continued Story'. It left me unclear of what Gaby's future and her parent's future held in store for them.

I feel Gaby's future was hopeless until Alicia's husband brought her their home. Her parents were gone, and he knew he and his wife could care for her and provide for her and most importantly love her. They provided hope for this child and a safe and healthy future.

Alicia obviously loved this child very much, so much she had to know where she came from. She wanted to do the right thing, but in the end, I don't think she could part with Gabby. What good would it have done to return her to her grandmother? I am not saying she couldn't be a part of Gaby's life, an important part even. Gaby only knew her mother and father as her mother and father. How would anyone tell a child we aren't your real parents, and your biological parents were murdered and now go live with your grandmother. She is too young to understand this.

Is it the right thing to find out the truth? Maybe. Alicia now knows how Gaby came to be hers, what she doesn't understand is her husband did this out of love for his wife. Was it the correct thing to do? Who is to say. We are to assume he knew where she came from, but did he know who her family was to return the child to her grandmother? Who knows.

Does Gaby go to her grandmother? Does she stay with her mother? Does she stay with her father? Where did Alicia go? Do they reunite? We will never know....I am left with so many questions

Like Water for Chocolate ~~Laurie Lewis~~

I enjoyed this movie, it was a love story, with humor and sadness, and somewhat a 'cliff hanger'. It showed Spanish culture in terms of the importance of family and how each person has a role within the family. Magic Realism is displayed throughout this movie.

While it started with the birth of Tita, it was soon discovered that she was not her father's biological child. Magic Realism is first noted in this film with her father, Roberto, discovering Tita is not his and it pains him so greatly, he actually dies. Her mother never forgave the child for this and so she treated Tita horribly her entire life. It reminded me of the story Cinderella. Only Tita was not a step daughter. Her mother was just an evil and cynical. She wasn't happy so Tita could not be happy.

More Magic Realism as her mother notices Tita's affection for Pedro, so she decides to not only not allow her to marryp Pedro, she has her sister Rosaura marry him and they all live in the same house. The mother further torments her by having her make the wedding cake, Tita's tears drop in the cake, then when everyone eats it they all start to cry, and then they throw up.

Probably the best example of Magic Realism came at the end of the movie. Both Pedro and Tita have been waiting for over 22 years to be together, so on Esperanza's wedding night when they are finally alone and can be together, Pedro dies in the middle of their romantic start to their new life.

This movie reminded me of an American Soap Opera. People have an idea of what they think life should be, but when reality hits it is never close to what they thought it would be.

Diarios de Motocicleta

As the film starts we are introduced to what appears to be your average young man. He is playing sports, attending college to become a doctor and has a close family. Ernesto and his friend decide to travel over the next several months until they reach their final destination to volunteer at a Leper Colony, as this is what Ernesto believes he will specialize in as a doctor.
We see during the course of his travels, his personality grow into what would eventually make him a leader of the revolution of Latin America. As the two travel they meet many different people and it is through these interactions that Ernesto realizes his calling.
He struggles with the decision to leave his girlfriend to pursue his passion to help others at the Leper Colony, but promises to return to her.
He meets a man and asks him for help. The man learns through conversation these two are doctors, so he asks them to look at his neck. Immediately, without hesitation Ernesto tells him it is a tumor, his friend tells the man it is a cyst. The man becomes upset at his diagnosis, and sends them away offering little help to them. His friend scolds him basically telling him he should not have been so direct with his diagnosis. Ernesto believes he told the man what the man needed to know.
His next encounter was with a couple forced to travel to find work, leaving their son behind for his safety. He watches as the husband is chosen to work for the mining location, but argues with the person in charge of choosing because he doesn't offer the men food or drink. He is angered by their lack of compassion for the men that will be working for them.
He watches the poor walking to find a better place to live. He speaks to some and hears the stories of farmers being forced from their property. He attempts to help a sick older woman and when he realizes there is little he can do he realizes he can give her pills and tell her they will make her better. Giving the woman hope and peace of mind, instead of telling her she is dying.
When he finally arrives at the Leper Colony, he refuses to wear gloves. He doesn't want the people with this disease to feel more isolated than they already do. He shakes their hands and cares for them with respect and compassion.
As the film progressed Ernesto turned into a man of courage and compassion for others. Unfortunately his passion to help others is what led to his violent manner as a revolutionist and his untimely demise.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

WOW....I was expecting a comedy. While there were a few things the were funny, overall this was not such a great film.
I am not sure if the difference I noticed in these women vs. American women has more to do with timing or culture. Meaning it was obvious this movie is a bit older. I think it was over dramatic in their reactions at times. The characters lacked likability (is that a word?). I couldn't feel sorry for Pepa, she was dating a married man. She knew that he was married and this did not matter to her. You get what you give....and it came back on her when he cheated on her.
I think some things they did were similar to American women, such as the mixed feelings Pepa had for Ivan. She loved him and was miserable without him but at the same time she was so angry with him. There is a thin line between love and hate, our passion can teeter us either way. In this movie Pepa teetered toward hatred for Ivan when he decided to leave her. I think this is possible no matter what culture you are. Emotions are emotions.
Spanish speaking women interact with men in what appears to be a more condescending tone. I felt as though they attempt to use sensuality to provoke the man's behavior to be what they want it to be. I don't think most American women do this. I think women in America either tend to speak their minds to men and voice what they want from them or they are meek and let the man make decisions for them.
I was not a fan of this film, but 2 out of 3 so far I really enjoyed.

Another good movie this week!
The interaction between Gonzalo and Pedro developed into a normal boy friendship. This could have been about two American boys in school together during their school hours. They struggled with the bullies of the school and stood up for each other. Gonzalo helped Pedro on his test when he saw that his friend clearly did not know the answers. Pedro spent the night with Gonzalo. Gonzalo sold flags with Pedro and his 'family'.
Outside of school it was obvious their lives were very different. Their social classes were obviously very different. Gonzalo went to the demonstration with Pedro and sold flags with his family, but he did so because he was having fun. For Pedro this was a way of life, it was how they earned an income. Gonzalo took Pedro home on his bike, and at first Pedro did not want him to see where he lived because he was embarresed or afraid Gonzalo would no longer be his friend. While Pedro was at Gonzalo's house he could not believe all of the clothes in the closet were Pedro's and when he was able to wear his Adidas shoes he was very happy. The rich and the poor in Chile are very similar to the wealthy and poor of the US. They live very differently.
The message I took from this movie is how nice it would be if our lives were lived as simple and innocent children. Looking past our social status, ignoring it even, and having the courage to choose your friend for the qualities of that person.
I felt the film was well done. It told the story of the time and culture and showed how innocent childhood friendship can be.

Rosario left Mexico to establish a better life for herself and her son, Carlitos. Carlitos was left behind in his grandmother's care because Rasario felt she would be able to protect him and care for him as she hereself would.

Rosario made this decision because life in Mexico is a daily struggle for food, clothing and shelter. She felt the United States could provide greater opportunities for them both.

Carlitos missed his mother and was fearful that he would be taken from his grandmother. He aslo had to deal with mixed emotions of sadness and anger towards Rosario leaving him behind. Rosario lived in a garage with another woman and worked multiple jobs to try to earn money to obtain a lawyer to help her be able to gain citizenship to allow for her son to come to the United States to be with her. She made unfair wages and was unable to do anything when she was fired from on job and not paid for her work due to her being in the United States illegally. She was desparate for her son to be with her to the point she was going to marry Paco, who had become a legal citizen. In the end she could not go through with the marriage so she decided to go back to Mexico.

Women in the US have different choices to make. They may not have to leave their country, but they may take jobs or do things they would not normally do in order to provide for themselves and their children.