From Prada to Nada – A Film About Mexican American Identity?
I finally watched “From Prada to Nada” this week. And by finally, I mean that it’s been starring me in the face on Netflix and I’ve been avoiding it. Why? Well, Prada’s not my thing…I’m clueless about fashion, I’m deterred by stories about the rich life and I wondered…is this going to be another Hollywood movie that pokes fun at how pathetic living la vida mexicana is? I mean being Mexican is about as bad as it gets in this country, right? So to go from Prada to Nada means que mexicanos no tiene nada, verdad??
But I ran out of choices on Netflix and figured, what the heck, I’ll give it a try…and a funny thing happened…I actually kind of liked it. I liked the play on bicultural identities that we see when the wealthy huera (light-skinned girl) is transported into East LA and suddenly having to address her cultural roots for the first time and feels out of place. At the same time, the other sister embraces her roots intently. It may have been a little far-fetched, but on a less dramatic level, this is part of the American reality for many Latinos. I liked seeing the strong-willed, altruistic non-fluent Latina connecting with a white boy who speaks Spanish and has lived in East LA all his life…cute. This is something I can personally relate to, since I’m in an interracial relationship and sometimes feel like the huera in the group or like the solitary Anglo who is enveloped in the Latino community.
The fact that they chose East LA as the “obvious opposite” of Beverly Hills is slightly obnoxious. I’m always confused by films that break down stereotypes while simultaneously reinforcing them. What’s the point? But I guess I was glad to see that their portrayal was less offensive than most mainstream films. Another thing I wonder about is why there are virtually no Mexicans in this Mexican American story, but that’s a whole other discussion.
*sigh* … Hollywood.
I think what I enjoyed most in the whole film though, was the commentary from the tia and her friends who saw these two girls as a source of entertainment and chismes…lol. They were fun to watch because we’ve got older women in our church who are like this…not to mention suegra.
© 2012 – 2013, Chantilly Patiño. All rights reserved.
I have not heard of this movie. After reading your review and watching the trailer, I can’t wait to check it out!
@Me and the Mexican Lol…it was actually pretty cute and there are definitely points about Latino identity that are sooo relateable. ;) Their tía was great and I loved the romantic dicotamy of the “white girl” with the mexicano and the mexican girl with the white boy…lol. ;)
Chantilly, this movie looks like a lot of fun! Sometimes the best lessons are delivered through humor. As for picking East L.A., it would make sense to me. It’s heavily Latino and has a lot of gangs. I don’t take offense to it, as I couldn’t think of a starker contrast to Beverly Hills. One thing, though. … They TOTALLY messed up the cholas makeup at the end of the clip. That was quite fake. : p
@ezzylanguzzi Yeah, I agree on the make up…she looked more like a gisha than a chola…weird…lol. This movie was pretty cute though and while it did have stereotypes in it that I didn’t appreciate, I think there were some really great positives to the film too…especially about connecting to your roots and being comfortable with your whole self. And yes, it was fun to watch! Especially the tias and the intercultural relationships. ;)
@biculturalmom Well, you sold me on it! *lol* I probably wouldn’t have watched it, otherwise. Hey, looking forward to seeing you next month. : ))))
@ezzylanguzzi Wah!? Does this mean your going to Miami!!? =)!!
@biculturalmom Jijijiji … SI! There were so many moving parts I had to nail down to get down there (work, school, home, funds). Finalized it all last week. *lol* Had to see you, again, and wanted to meet Adriana and Letty. : )))
@biculturalmom Jijijiji … SI! There were so many moving parts I had to nail down to get down there (work, school, home, funds). Finalized it all last week. *lol* Had to see you, again, and wanted to meet Adriana and Letty. : )))
@ezzylanguzzi Yay!! Oh that’s great!! Ok, see you there and we need to make a plan for hanging out together so I don’t miss you again! =)
@ezzylanguzzi Yay!! Oh that’s great!! Ok, see you there and we need to make a plan for hanging out together so I don’t miss you again! =)
Oh, I came over to check-out the new design. I LOVE IT!!! : )))
@ezzylanguzzi Thank you! :) I’m so happy it’s finally done!