travelinggirl Reviews

El Norte (1983)

Sweet Wonderful Film

[8/10 · 25 January 2013]

A sweet wonderful film that really shows the life and plight of undocumented aliens. What motivates me to give it a 8 out of 10 is the ending part of the film and the lack of certain realistic aspects of the film and story.

Aside from magic realism (a very popular genre in post-modernistic Latin American literature and film – see NOTE below), the characters of brother and sister have very few real hardships - in comparison with what Central Americans actually have to endure on their very difficult and torturous trip to the north. There are rapings, muggings, and of course, the most difficult and common entry point, the desert. The desert is such a huge aspect of the journey that needs to be overcome. If there had been more usage of the indigenous dialog – it would have been so much more truer to the experience of what these people went through.

NOTE: For all you video game "fanboys" out there - here is the definition of "magic realism": A literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative or technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Realistically Portrayed

[5/10 · 25 January 2013]

This film focuses on the generation gap of the classic neurotic mother and her bright, "contemporary" daughter. From what I have seen and heard from others it seems this gap in the Mexican American community is a very common and realistically portrayed aspect of the storyline.

There is an interesting subplot that centers on the characters daughter being overweight and the Mexican American communities' reaction with how they deal with the whole subject of weight. This subplot culminates in a very funny scene where several characters of women that are heavy take their clothes off to their underwear as a matter of pride and to overcome and deal with the exhausting heat in the sweatshop where they work.

The character of the daughter does have a love interest who accepts her for who she is with her weight aside. I really do think that this movie would be best viewed by a teenager who is struggling with similar issues and cultures. They will be able to relate to the characters so much more.

The ending was very typical and expected. Overall I felt that this movie was a high risk when they made it, because it will probably have very high and very low appeal in equal depending on who is watching it and their backgrounds.

Bagdad Cafe (1987)

One Terrific Little Film.

[7/10 · 25 January 2013]

Loving a small touch of surrealism in your movies, I would have to say that this film would be a perfect fit for you. The way the film was photographed (often off-kilter), the desert colors (looking air- brushed), the people are very much off the edge (the result of heatstroke maybe?), and even the inanimate objects all seem to have a life of their own in this film.

It was wonderful that the actor Jack Palance left behind his typical "slightly mean" persona to play a character that is bemused and a big lovestruck artist. CCH Pounder is an actor that can scold and holler better than anyone. She is so very commanding. It is great that the characters of the long-suffering men in her life eventually get to appreciate the story unfolding before them. The overweight German woman who turns a disgusting dirty, "down on its luck" café/motel into a special place, where magical things happen on so many different levels, is just wonderful. The last scene kind of disappointed me, but overall it doesn't undermine this goofball quality of this one terrific little film.

Matador (1986)

Surprised.

[6/10 · 25 January 2013]

I was very much surprised and shocked by how much I enjoyed this film, which at times to me ventures dangerously close to what I would call a "snuff film."

The story follows the character of a retired matador who murders women for his sexual pleasure, videotaping them so that he is able to pleasure himself later on when he watches them. He eventually meets his match in another character (a lawyer) that is just as murderous and played by Assumpta Serna. The film is actually wonderfully acted and photographed throughout. The film is crazy, sexy, outrageous, and at times very much shocking. The storyline, which includes the wonderfully mad and sexy Antonio Banderas, having visions of these murders, makes so little sense, but in the long run doesn't really matter. Beyond the overtly sensationalistic pleasures that go on - there is a sharply perceptive insight about how people enjoy looking at and even causing the violence.

I would point out that the focus on bullfighting is not a critique of the sport per se, as much as an opportunity to have a conversation of the darker side of human nature.

A Dangerous Place (2012 Video)

Great Characters

[10/10 · 21 December 2012]

The characters in this film are compelling and original. The actors do a great job!

Kristin Dalton was amazing in her portrayal of Claire. As a mother dealing with personal tragedy and faced with the responsibility of thwarting a terrorist plot, the character of Claire goes through an emotional roller-coaster. Her fear and panic, especially at the end of the film, felt so real that it had my heart racing.

This is an excellent film if you enjoy watching films with strong female leads.

A Dangerous Place is worth buying.