REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES (2002)

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"A well written, if formulaic, teen coming-of-age drama."

I recently had the unique opportunity to see a little indie film called Real Women Have Curves. Originally this was to be an HBO Original Film, but after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to both critical and crowd praise, HBO and Newcastle Films decided to give it a theatrical run.

The film is about recent High School graduate Ana, who is played wonderfully by America Ferrera in her feature film debut. Ana is a Mexican-American girl who is slightly over-weight and living in the outskirts of Los Angeles with her mother, father, sister, grandfather, and 2 cousins. Ana has dreams of going to college, but her mother feels differently. For reasons both personal and financial, her mother convinces her (mostly through guilt) that she must go to work in her sister's dress manufacturing shop. Here we learn of her sister's financial woes as they work day and night to fill orders for dresses.

Although the coming-of-age aspect of this film is hardly original, it's the acting, as well as the writing of the family interaction, that lifts this film from mediocrity. The dynamic of the family is so well portrayed that you almost feel like a part of the family, sitting at the table, mute, as arguments and disagreements, and general family business flairs up around you.

The film is based on the play of the same name written by Josefina Lopez (who also contributed to the screenplay), and that wonderful sense of intimacy that comes with a play has translated well onto the screen.It was also refreshing to see realistic, non-stereotypical Latios portrayed (and featured) in a film. These aren't the Jennifer Lopez' type of people. These are real people, and they're like a real family, and anyone, Latino or not, can relate to that.

Ultimately, the message of the film is held front and center throughout. It's a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and the notion that it's hard to love anything until you love yourself. Ana is able to look at herself by the end of the film and KNOW she is a beautiful, young woman, curves and all.

So, if you're up for exploring familiar territory with fresh, unfamiliar faces, I certainly recommend Real Women Have Curves. Even though it's been done before, rarely is it done this well.