Feminist Film Moment - Real Women Have Curves

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES

(Note: If this post is your first encounter with my Feminist Film Moment postings, kindly read the rules of engagement before reading, commenting, etc.)

Written by Josefina Lopez and George LaVoo based on the play by Josefina Lopz

Directed by Patricia Cardoso

Cast:  America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, Ingrid Oliu, Soledad St. Hilaire

Synopsis:  A young Chicana struggles between her mother's cultural expectations and her personal desires. 

Moment: The title says it all! 

Rationale:

Although told with a Latino cast, Real Women Have Curves tells the universal story of individuating from our parents and their expectations for our lives.  This film also shows one take on how gender, cultural and class can intertwine to shape those expectations and make them difficult to resist.  But resist Ana Garcia does, and this feminist film moment is only example.  In this scene, she doesn't just stand up to her mother (played by the late and underrated Lupe Ontiveros who was one of several people of color overlooked during last month's Oscar in memorian tribute), she inspires resistance to our society's narrow standards of beauty.  It's wonderful on film so I can only imagine how powerful it was on stage!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.