The movie Tango, I felt was difficult to follow at first. The movie had three stories within the movie. First, the director Mario, in his present life had been injured and was recuperating and had returned to the studio to start work on a new drama; one that would display the beauty of the dance tango. Mario would have flash backs or even dreams that would place you in another time and you were given a chance to understand his emotions through his thoughts. The next scene however, may take you to be the audience in the play he was directing. The movie had dance incorporated into all scenes, even the dreams. The dance, tango, is filled with rhythm that allows the bodies to move together. The feet and legs move with a message of their own. I noticed the importance of keeping eye contact with your partner as if to become one together. The music that tango is danced to is written to keep the beat in exact measure. I do think dance, especially the tango can speak a message without words. That is why ballet is so beautiful to watch.

In the studio, on the set, the background lighting was bright to display the silhouette of the dancers as they danced. The lighting would fade to black, I noticed during his dreams and the scene would close. I don’t think I was able to notice much about the lighting because I felt like I was trying to follow the story. I also was more interested in watching the dance.

Carol's Journey

In Carol’s Journey, Carol fought conventionalism by her stubbornness. For her age, she was wise of the world matters, knew she was loved and was confident in herself. She spoke fluent Spanish and English, she defended herself against being bullied, and had a charming way of persuading others to believe in what was right. I would have liked to see the end of the movie. I thought Carol was independent which interfered with her efforts to adapt to her new culture. She did not like being controlled by her Aunt when she lived with them. Carol returned to the US after her mother died, which she handled very well, and the death of a new friend. Her dad meant everything to her. I think the men realized not to shoot the father but killed her friend as an example that the Military is in charge. I wondered if the American man was really Carol’s father because her mother said she had to leave Spain because she was pregnant.

Volver

In Volver, the plot is filled with murder, a mother who you are not sure is a ghost or not, and a daughter trying to escape her past. I thought the movie was bizarre and left me asking myself, what was the meaning of this movie? I would have to say it was the love these women had for one another. Relationships grew apart, then stronger due to the love, adultery, incest and murder that revolved around these women’s lives. Raimunda was so upset at her husband (due to her past) when she hears that her daughter was being violated by him. She was willing to take the blame for his death’ to protect Paula. We find out in the movie that Paula is really Raimunda’s sister, due to her being violated by her father. Raimunda seems to be reliving past experiences. These women through the good and bad times come together and share secrets. These secrets bond them together. Raimunda eventually sees her mother and hears of her own story as she used the fire she set to pretend she was dead. I believe this is a tribute to women to show how they bond, grieve, love and keep one another’s secrets.

The tension between superstitious beliefs I believe is caused by whether on is willing to accept the superstition or goes against it. The person or persons who believe have tension when others don’t understand or give the superstition importance. Raimunda thought Augustina was crazy for asking her to ask her mother something for her if she saw her. Everyone “knew” her mother was dead. Also the cleaning of the tombstones was a superstition. All of the women were at the cemetery in the windy city to take care of the tombstones.

Sandy Clark

Entre Nos

In this true life story, Mariana and her children are abandoned by her husband. They are left with very little money. Mariana realizes she will have to make money to support them. She makes and tries to sell her empanadas but is unsuccessful at first. They also would not let her go to certain jobs because of the children with her. Mariana knew she needed to make money but her first priority was her children. She would let them sleep and eat before she did. She kept them safe. Gabriel, the son, took on a responsible role. He was the caregiver when his mother went to find work. He was the breadwinner when his mother was sick. Mariana taught both the children the courage and endurance to go on with life regardless what challenges you are facing. They never seemed to whine or complain. Even when there was only enough money for one snack, Gabriel let his sister pick and he did not get his chocolate bar. The children would get up early with their mother and start collecting cans from the city garbage just to earn money. The children were excited at the amount of cans they found. Gabriel even wanted to finish their work for the day (counting cans), before they ate lunch. Gabriel seemed sad at first and did not talk much but after realizing his dad was not returning, he seemed to mature even more. He speaks English and was able to translate when his mother did not understand. I thought this was a wonderful movie. The perseverance Mariana showed to her children is that you can succeed no matter what you are facing.

The Official Story

I thought the end of this movie was disturbing. I did not like the violence that occurred as a result of Alicia pushing for the truth. Then the movie left you hanging with an unknown ending. I think Alicia will be able to reconcile with personal thoughts due to her determination to pursue the truth. If she had not pursued in finding if Gaby’s birth parents were prisoners of war, I don’t think she would have been able to forgive herself. She asked the priest for guidance and did not really get any reassurance, even implying that he knew what Roberto did and this made the priest uncomfortable. She was asked not to ever bring the subject up with Roberto but she could not get away from the pressure of the subject due to the students in class and the marching of the families who had someone taken. She even supported the student’s opinion in his paper if he placed the references. She had her mind open to the possibility that Gaby could have been one of the children taken at birth.

I hope that Alicia did not return to her husband. When she walked out at the end of the movie, I think that was symbolic that she was thru with him. If the natural grandmother pursued a relationship with Gaby, I feel Alicia would have allowed this. Alicia could lose custody of Gaby but I think she was willing to pay that price for the truth. She did not want Gaby to grow up not knowing the truth. I think Gaby was wiser that her age, even though she acted like a baby at times. She sang a song. This did not sound like nor did the words seem to be a children’s lullaby. She always sang it, like she was trying to express herself so they would understand her or remember her. Possibly she heard at birth before she was taken.

Like Water for Chocolate

Tita, the youngest daughter of Elena, in Like Water for Chocolate, struggles to find her independence. Her mother, a very harsh and strict woman, enforces that she will never marry but take care of her until death. I think this was a very selfish demand. Did Elena just make this up or was this the custom? I think she did not want to be alone after becoming a widow but more so to torture Tita. Tita found true love at an early age and is not able to pursue it. She is forbidden at times to see or speak to Pedro but has to endure the pain of watching her sister, Rosaura, marry Pedro. Mother Elena arranges for Rosaura, the oldest daughter, to marry Pedro knowing full well it would hurt Tita. Elena, it seems uses this as a form of punishment. Throughout the movie we follow Tita with her struggle to have a relationship with Pedro. Every night Tita would cry and knit a quilt. The quilt was very long, signifying the many nights she spent yearning for him. Tita uses the quilt to place over their bodies even at the time of death.

Magical realism is used when Tita places her emotions in the food she prepares. Tita learns at a young age to cook from her grandmother, and takes over the head cook at the ranch after her grandmother’s death. Tita uses her rebellion against her mother and places her feelings in the food she prepares. Many of the emotions are acted out by the characters in the movie, as if a spell has been cast on them. Elena accused Tita of making people sick, like in the scene when everyone cried after eating the cake because Tita let a tear drop fall in the cake. I tried to observe if these emotions ever affected Pedro. Sometimes I don’t think they did because he felt the same way Tita did, so he did not get sick. The feelings between the two were shared even at the dinner table while others acted out the emotions.

Motorcycle Diaries

Ernesto and Alberto set out on a Latin American journey, on a motorcycle, “the Mighty One”. Ernesto was always friendly, honest, and willing to help others. One of the scenes that help shape him as a leader is when he met the “mining” couple. The further Ernesto and Alberto went into the hills of Chile and Peru, the more Ernesto was devastated by the way the indigenous people lived and was treated. Most were poor and had lost their jobs (fired by the rich) and were looking for work. The mining company hand-selected the men they wanted and left the woman and the other men to fend for themselves. They were sent away starving and thirsty. This outraged Ernesto. The other example that “changed him” was the night they celebrated his birthday. He gave a speech and thanked the people, the doctors, nurses, nuns, and workers at the colony. Ernesto just wanted to be with the common people though and risked his life swimming across the river to be with the poor, sick people with leprosy. Ernesto wanted to help the impoverished. He realizes this journey changes him, no longer wanting to be a physician. He realizes he would have never met these people if it weren’t for the circumstances that allowed this to happen.

The main difference on celebrating traditions between the US and the Spanish speaking world is the Spanish always seem to include dancing as part of the festivities. Dancing occurred when Ernesto was leaving on his trip at his girlfriend’s. On their journey, the small town social was a dance where Ernesto and Alberto went. At his birthday celebration in Peru, there was dancing and with dancing there was always girls who wanted to dance. Ernesto however was not really interested in dancing nor did he dance well. He was more characteristic of some Americans.

El Mariachi

El Mariachi

Sandra Clark

            A mariachi is a singer/performer. For this particular man in the movie, a mariachi is all he wanted to do. It was his goal or mission in his life. His father and grandfather preceded him in the singing business. It was a family tradition that he wanted to carry on, almost as if he believed he could not do anything else in life. He states “All I want to be is a Mariachi”.

             The movie was filled with Mexican stereotypes and bandido- violence. The leaders of the violent groups were portrayed as “macho” men with other men working for them to do the “dirty work”. Women catered to these leaders and their needs. From the opening scene to the conclusion, violence became the center of the movie with the mariachi fighting to save his life. The mariachi dressed in black and carried his guitar case was mistaken for Azul who also wore black and carried his weapons in his guitar case. Azul broke out of prison when being pursued by the drug lord Moco. Due to his mistaken identity, the mariachi had to defend himself by eventually killing and becoming part of this violence. The mariachi “fell in love” with a woman, Domino who was a girlfriend of Moco. As the Mariachi races to try to save Domino, he comes face to face with Moco, who has now become jealous of the mariachi. Upon finding Domino dead, Moco plans to put an end to the mariachi’s career by shooting him in the hand. After killing Moco, the mariachi leaves this unlucky town, riding off, cradling his hand which had been shot.

            The music gave importance and meaning to the scenes. The music was dark, with building of intensity when the violent scenes occurred. The music was soft and meaningful when the mariachi was portrayed. A mariachi is a singer. He gets to show his talents as Domino gives him a job at the bar she owns. His love ballad he performs leaves the listening audience loving his sound. The “bad” characters had stereotypically gruff, strong voices.

Machuca

                Gonzalo and Pedro become classmates in an all-boys school. Gonzalo is from a rich family. He lives in a nice home, has his own room and a lot of clothes compared to Pedro. Pedro’s family lives in a shantytown village with an outhouse. Similarly, both of these boys are seeking friendship as they are ignored or picked on by others. They are both bullied by the other boys at school and eventually they start taking up for one another and this brings them together. The boys start spending days after school together. Gonzalo goes over to Pedro’s house. He observes the parents working, including Pedro’s mother. Gonzalo is disgusted by the use of the outhouse. Pedro gets to sleep over at Gonzalo’s house. He is amazed at the amount of clothing he has and his Adidas shoes. The boys are experiencing the joys of being kids together as they consume alcohol and learn how to kiss a girl. The friendship continues to grow but is interrupted by reminders of the difference in social class, which is reflected throughout the movie. Gonzalo is referred to as “strawberry” or “blonde”; with his fair skin and hair. The abandoned girl, Silvana, refers to Gonzalo as the “snob”. Gonzalo is deeply disturbed when he sees his mother demonstrating at a protest in Chile. She is fighting for the military which Pedro and his family along with Gonzalo are protesting against. I believe the main message is that social class does divide people and in this case, destroys or eliminates the boys’ friendship.

            Father McEnroe is supportive of his leftist views allowing an integration of lower and upper class to come together at the school. He is always teaching the boys to respect one another. He is overpowered at the end of the movie and replaced when the military takes over. The Father eats all the wafers for communion, stating” God is no longer in this place”. Pedro, as well as other boys, is expelled from the school for not supporting the military. Raids break out in the slum communities were Pedro’s family lives. Gonzalo went to check on his friend, where he watched families being separated and some even killed, including Silvana. Gonzalo was almost taken captive but was freed when he said “look at me”. His fair skin and nice clothes saved him. Gonzalo used class to distinguish himself from his new friend and his family.

Under the Same Moon

                Carlitos, one of the main characters, is a 9 year old boy from Mexico. He is mature in his actions and thinking far beyond his age. He awakens each morning to take care of his sick grandmother. He is driven by his determination to be with his mother in the United States. His self- sacrificing words and actions teach the adults that he comes in contact with lessons that will remain with them for life.

            Carlitos mother left Mexico to build and find a better life; one that would support her and her son. It was inferred by others that she left him for selfish reasons such as to find love or that she did not love Carlitos. Other people tried to make Carlitos feel abandoned, but his optimistic personality always won.

            I do believe this was a difficult decision for the mother. She had told Carlitos to look at the moon when they are thinking of each other, hence implying the name of the movie Under the Same Moon. The mother’s first priority was to Carlitos. Even after losing a job one day; the next day she went looking for work. The more money she could save, the sooner she would be able to bring Carlitos with her. She spoke to him every Sunday on the phone and promised they would be together soon. The first Sunday on the telephone with Carlitos, she cried quietly and held back her emotions; showing her longing to be with her son. Each evening after their long days apart, they would lie in their beds and reflect on the moon, meanwhile thinking of one another.

            Carlitos faced many challenges trying to get to LA to be with his mother. He was on his own for days, depending on new acquaintances to help him.  Some of the people he met were good to him; however others led him into dangerous situations. His mother struggled to find a new job. She was intended to be married to a man for the privilege of him being a U.S. Citizen. She could not follow thru with this arrangement, holding out for true love.

             I don’t believe mothers in the U. S. could understand the sacrifice Carlitos mother made trying to bring him a better life. Mothers anywhere would do anything for their children, it is a strong bond, but some would not separate from their children.  She risked her life to be in the United States and thought it was better for him to be safe in Mexico, until the time was right to bring him with her. There was nothing selfish about her love for her son.