Real Women Have Curves | | Cast : | America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, Ingrid Oliu | | Director : | Patricia Cardoso | | Studio : | HBO Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | November 08, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | December 07, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 31, 2005 | | Summary | Young Ana Garcia takes on her mother and the world | Content
 | The surprise in "Real Women Have Curves" is not that Ana Garcia (American Ferrera) is able to get into a first rate college, given that she is the daughter of a poor Latino family in East L.A., because we buy that she is smart enough. But given her family, it is rather surprising that she dares to dream the dream. Certainly it is nothing that was every discussed around the dinner table in the Garcia family. Her father, Raúl (Jorge Cervera, Jr.) is a gardener and her mother, Carmen (Lupe Ontiveros) makes dresses at the sweatshop run by Ana's sister, Estela (Ingrid Oliu). Her mother dismisses out of hand the idea that Ana can go to college and insists she come to work at the dress shop. Although Ana's teacher, Mr. Guzman (George Lopez), continues to encourage her it is not until Ana endures working in the sweatshop for a while that she becomes desperate enough to sit down and write that college application essay.
While the story of this 2002 film begins with a young girl graduating high school and ends with her on her way to college, as the title of "Real Women Have Curves" should indicate, this is really about notions of self-worth and body image. Estela's shop makes dresses that are sold for ten times what they are paid on consignment from a big company that is exploiting their cheap labor. Despite her overbearing mother, Ana has enough brains to know exploitation of the workers when she sees it and enough self-confidence to challenge the way of the world for all the good that might do anybody. But then another idea becomes more important as Ana gets her co-workers to wonder why big women (the size of say, cows, hippos, elephants and orcas) should not get to wear beautiful dresses cut to their own figures. The best scene in the movie is when Ana is sweating to death in the dress shop and decides being comfortable is a worthy goal. The next thing we know the ladies are comparing their bodies and driving Ana's mother absolutely crazy.
This was originally a play by Josefina Lopez, who worked on the teleplay along with George LaVoo for this film directed by Patricia Cardoso ("El Reino de los cielos"). The flaw that most stands out in this film is that having created an ideal with regards to a beautiful dress for a real woman with curves, we never get the payoff, even though such a dress materializes. This is rather disappointing seeing as how the dress becomes pivotal to my deconstructing of the film, but while I endorse the ideological sentiments of the film regarding female body image I am obviously not in a position to do so from personal knowledge, which may well indicate that I am off base here.
This DVD has a pair of above average commentary tracks, the first with actresses Ferrera and Ontiveros, and the second with the director and the screenwriters. Since all are committed to the message of the film, they actually discuss the importance of what is going on and how such issues resonate in their own lives and careers (especially in terms of Lopez), rather than simply telling stories of what happened on the set and other sundry topics. Ferrera is clearly the star of this film, and her performance is a winning one whatever problems we may see with the teleplay, but for those who were introduced to Ontiveros's talents on "Desperate Housewives" it is certainly nice to see here playing a more completely fleshed out (so to speak) character, and her participation in the commentary track is equally as strong. In the end the key thing is that this film is not merely for Latino women, but all real women with curves, and if this film teaches them anything it is to make sure they are exposed to its rhetorical position when they are still young. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 30, 2005 | | Summary | Easy to Love the Characters - Good Message | Content
| Real Women Have Curves is the story of Ana (played by America Ferrera), a Latina teenager, during the summer of her 18th year. Ana is beautiful. Hourglass figure with melon breasts, full lips and long thick hair. She's intelligent and strong willed but is being held back by her family, especially her mother who constantly berates her because of her physical appearance. Ana lives with her family in East Los Angeles in a Mexican community but she goes to a high school in Beverly Hills; a feat she accomplished on her own. The story begins with Ana getting ready for her last day of high school. Her mother feigns being sick to get her to stay home but Ana doesn't fall for it and heads off to school showing immediately the strained relationship between these two women and the emphasis Ana places on education. Ana's mother, Carmen (played by Lupe Ontiveros) is old school; she started working for her family when she was thirteen. She married young and became a mother. Work and family are her life. She wants the same for Ana and wants Ana to want the same which is an odd scenario because most story mom's want more for their children. Carmen constantly insults Ana about her weight in front of everyone. As the story moves on it becomes more disturbing. Estela (played by Ingrid Oliu) is Ana's adult sister. She still lives at home and runs the sewing factory where they all work, Estela's Fashion Design. They make dresses for Bloomingdales, getting $18 a dress when the store sells them for $600. This infuriates Ana as well as the fact they never make dresses bigger than size 7. Estela has many heavy weights beside the physical weight she carries. She's fighting to keep the factory open, pay the rent, get the dresses made on time to satisfy buyers and keep her employees working despite the inability to pay them their wages. Three employees move back to Mexico and Estela has Ana to promise to stay and help with a recent order. With Ana's unknowing help, Estela steps outside the box and begins designing her own dresses. As a special gift, she makes a special red gown for Ana, regrettably we never get to see Ana in it. Like Ana but to a lesser degree, Carmen berates Estella. It's during one of these time Carmen mentions love, "It's because I love you that I make your life so miserable." Estela replies, Love me less. George Lopez makes an appearance as Ana's teacher, Mr. Guzman. He encourages her to go to college, helps her fill out her college application and makes a special visit to plead with Ana's parents to let her go to college when she is offered a full scholarship to Columbia. Although a small role, Lopez's character is effective as the nurturing teacher looking to help a woman from his own community. The best scene in the movie is when the women in the factory, strip to their underwear to expose their secrets. It all starts when Ana can't take the heat in the factory any longer and removes her shirt to cool herself. Her mother freaks, telling her she's too fat to show that much of her body. Ana is not ashamed or afraid of her body and she lets her mother know it. The other women in the factory back her up. They begin to share their body parts and how they feel about it. They take off their clothes which further infuriates Carmen. "this is who we are" yells Ana, "real women." They all celebrate each other (without Carmen) and go back to work in their underwear after Carmen walks out. This seen easily shows how Ana and Estela evolve while Carmen seems trapped in her bitterness and insecurities. She has an opportunity to bond with her daughters, women, and chooses not to. It's very exhilarating to watch. Real Women Have Curves is worth seeing for this scene alone. Throughout the movie is laced with lots of peppy Mexican music and shots of the Mexican community. There are subtitles between family members but it isn't distracting enough to be cumbersome and adds to the angst of family. I love this little film about a strong willed girl's transition from a teenager into a woman. America Ferrera plays the part of Ana as a confident teenager who has a devilish side for egging her mother on. She still has insecurities to discover and conquer. It's easy to love her, her sister and even her mother. I would have liked Estela's storyline expanded as hers is an interesting character. Most importantly this film's success and the success of the characters are not contingent on Ana losing weight and finding true love to be happy. Real Women Have Curves is a movie not only for Latina women but, I think, for girls and women everywhere battling the views of others about how they should feel about their bodies. (...) |
| Rating | | | Date | June 13, 2005 | | Summary | Good Message, Mediocre Movie | Content
| I had heard great reviews of this so-called cute little flick, so I decided to pick it up at my local used DVD/Bookstore. I was hoping for a story that would inspire me, as a 'plus-size' woman, but in all honesty, it didn't.
It was the same old story about a teenager determined to rebel against her family, but this time with a twist - the teenager is fat. This movie explored many different issues - being an overweight individual, being an undervalued minority, the relationships of a family thick with values and old world heritage, growing-up and becoming an adult, and much much more. What the movie didn't do was explore these issues successfully - instead of focusing on one issue or perhaps two, it took a 'jack of all trades' approach, and mastered nor conquered any issues at all.
The acting is less than stellar, the dialogue is cliche, and the movie is very predictable. I was disappointed with this movie and urge others not to waste their time. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 15, 2005 | | Summary | Easy to Love the Characters - Good Message | Content
| Real Women Have Curves is the story of Ana (played by America Ferrera), a Latina teenager, during the summer of her 18th year. Ana is beautiful. Hourglass figure with melon breasts, full lips and long thick hair. She's intelligent and strong willed but is being held back by her family, especially her mother who constantly berates her because of her physical appearance.
Ana lives with her family in East Los Angeles in a Mexican community but she goes to a high school in Beverly Hills; a feat she accomplished on her own. The story begins with Ana getting ready for her last day of high school. Her mother feigns being sick to get her to stay home but Ana doesn't fall for it and heads off to school showing immediately the strained relationship between these two women and the emphasis Ana places on education.
Ana's mother, Carmen (played by Lupe Ontiveros) is old school; she started working for her family when she was thirteen. She married young and became a mother. Work and family are her life. She wants the same for Ana and wants Ana to want the same which is an odd scenario because most story mom's want more for their children. Carmen constantly insults Ana about her weight in front of everyone. As the story moves on it becomes more disturbing.
Estela (played by Ingrid Oliu) is Ana's adult sister. She still lives at home and runs the sewing factory where they all work, Estela's Fashion Design. They make dresses for Bloomingdales, getting $18 a dress when the store sells them for $600. This infuriates Ana as well as the fact they never make dresses bigger than size 7. Estela has many heavy weights beside the physical weight she carries. She's fighting to keep the factory open, pay the rent, get the dresses made on time to satisfy buyers and keep her employees working despite the inability to pay them their wages. Three employees move back to Mexico and Estela has Ana to promise to stay and help with a recent order.
With Ana's unknowing help, Estela steps outside the box and begins designing her own dresses. As a special gift, she makes a special red gown for Ana, regrettably we never get to see Ana in it. Like Ana but to a lesser degree, Carmen berates Estella. It's during one of these time Carmen mentions love, "It's because I love you that I make your life so miserable." Estela replies, Love me less.
George Lopez makes an appearance as Ana's teacher, Mr. Guzman. He encourages her to go to college, helps her fill out her college application and makes a special visit to plead with Ana's parents to let her go to college when she is offered a full scholarship to Columbia. Although a small role, Lopez's character is effective as the nurturing teacher looking to help a woman from his own community.
The best scene in the movie is when the women in the factory, strip to their underwear to expose their secrets. It all starts when Ana can't take the heat in the factory any longer and removes her shirt to cool herself. Her mother freaks, telling her she's too fat to show that much of her body. Ana is not ashamed or afraid of her body and she lets her mother know it. The other women in the factory back her up. They begin to share their body parts and how they feel about it. They take off their clothes which further infuriates Carmen. "this is who we are" yells Ana, "real women." They all celebrate each other (without Carmen) and go back to work in their underwear after Carmen walks out. This seen easily shows how Ana and Estela evolve while Carmen seems trapped in her bitterness and insecurities. She has an opportunity to bond with her daughters, women, and chooses not to. It's very exhilarating to watch. Real Women Have Curves is worth seeing for this scene alone.
Throughout the movie is laced with lots of peppy Mexican music and shots of the Mexican community. There are subtitles between family members but it isn't distracting enough to be cumbersome and adds to the angst of family.
I love this little film about a strong willed girl's transition from a teenager into a woman. America Ferrera plays the part of Ana as a confident teenager who has a devilish side for egging her mother on. She still has insecurities to discover and conquer. It's easy to love her, her sister and even her mother. I would have liked Estela's storyline expanded as hers is an interesting character.
Most importantly this film's success and the success of the characters are not contingent on Ana losing weight and finding true love to be happy. Real Women Have Curves is a movie not only for Latina women but, I think, for girls and women everywhere battling the views of others about how they should feel about their bodies.
Original Review Posted at http://largeandlovely.bellaonline.com |
| Rating | | | Date | April 08, 2005 | | Summary | This is the best film I've seen in quite a while! | Content
| I loved every minute of it. The plot involves Ana, a Mexican-American girl just graduating from Beverly Hills High School (although she lives in East LA -- she's a high achiever despite her background as the daughter of lower-income but hardworking immigrants). She is being encouraged by a teacher to apply to Columbia -- he thinks he can get her in with a full scholarship -- but her family expects her to go to work in her sister's "factory" (read: sweat shop) making formal dresses for upscale stores. Ana is spunky and can stand her own against her strong-willed and often manipulative mother, Carmen. Ana's father, grandfather, and sister are the saner ones in this family (as opposed to the mother), who love Ana and are more open to giving her opportunities. Ana's mother is constantly riding her daughter about her weight (even though the mother herself is overweight) because she wants her daughter to get married and produce grandchildren for her. Ana resists her mother's nagging, all the while she resents her mother's cruel remarks.
The acting is amazing and the story rings completely true. The issue of weight and women is very well handled -- the scene involving "cellulite" is unforgettable -- funny and iconic.
Because the story in this film involves a Mexican-American family living in East LA, the conversations in this film flip back and forth between Spanish and English (the Spanish is subtitled).
I'm sure I'll watch this movie many times. It's a DVD worth owning. |
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