Like Water for Chocolate

Let me start by saying that I didn't like this film! While watching this film, I found myself going through a variety of emotions. I felt outraged at the way Elena treated Tita. Mothers should never put their happiness above that of their children ever! Traditions are supposed to be things done out of love for one another. I saw no reason why Tita could not marry Pedro, stay on the ranch, and then take care of her mother in her old age. Seems like a perfect solution to me. Later on in the film, her mother always trying to catch Tita and Pedro together and telling her how inappropriate her behavior towards Pedro was. It was like the "pot calling the kettle" if you are familiar with this euphemism. I also felt that Tita was stupid for not marrying the doctor. Pedro and her never had a chance to develop a relationship beyond the secret clandestine meetings and sexual encounter. While I think passion is a good thing, it does not always make for a lasting life commitment. John was a friend, caring, devoted, and I think they also shared some passion together. He was the logical choice for a lifemate in my opinion. Rosaura was no better than her mother. She was willing to make her daughter carry on the family tradition even after knowing how Tita was affected by it. She did not love her sister at all or she never would have married Pedro. Pedro was pathetic. I can't believe he agreed and married Rosaura! His reasoning was so he could be closed to Tita. If he truely loved her he wouldn't have married her sister. He could have ran away with Tita or spent his life being her lover and never marry.
I thought the magic realism in this movie was downright hilarious! Not sure if it was supposed to be, but I thought so. The tears that Tita shed into the cake batter making everyone at the reception miss their lost love, start crying, and vomit. The roses that Pedro gave Tita used in the quail sauce was an aphrodisiac to whomever ate it. This causing Gertrudis to have an orgasmn, take a flaming shower, and have her pheromones attract the Federales to kidnap her. This part I believe was a blessing in disguise for Gertrudis. The placing of the onion on top of your head is supposed to make you stop crying? Total nonsense. The tears supposedly drying and turning to salt to be used for cooking. I don't think Tita shed that many tears or if that is even possible. I did love the folklore story that John told Tita about the matches. Again, the folklore story being used at the end of the movie in actuality a demonstration of magic realism. When I think about it almost all of the memorable scenes in this movie were based on magic realism. Perhaps this is why I thought the movie was pathetic. It kind of reminded me of a Mel Brooks sort of film. Well, I guess it is my blog and I am entitled to my own opinion here.

Diarios de Motocicleta

I thought there were several scenes in the movie that helped shape what was to become the future leader of the Latin American revolution. The first scene that stuck in my mind was the one in which Ernesto was telling his family goodbye before departing on his long journey. His love for his family and their obvious love for him was important. Family relationships are an important part of any leader. Families tend to be the ones who offer unwavering support and conversely are the first to tell you when your wrong. I think this is crucial because every leader needs some type of advisor and those advisors are not always willing to be honest when the need arises. Most people know that their family members provide unconditional love and that the criticism or support will be honest and in their best interest.

The second scene that I felt was crucial was when he visited his girlfriend. The girlfriend didn't want him to leave and she eventually promised she would wait for him. I think they both knew that the promise given was tentative at best. Despite her not wanting him to go and the potential of the relationship ending in the near future, he was willing to sacrifice his personal happiness in order to fullfil his commitment to the journey.

The third scene that was important was the $15 the girlfriend had given him to buy her panties. After multiple attempts by his friend to get him to spend the money on food, lodging, and a hooker he still wouldn't part with the money. This showed the trustworthiness of Ernesto. He was willing to go without medical care after becoming ill just so he would not spend the money.

Ernesto showed a great deal of cunning and finesse when he was able to get the newspaper to print an article and a photo of the two "doctors" on their important journey. Because of the long journey, they looked like a couple of bums and no one believed them when they said they were doctors. The newpaper article aided them in finding food, lodging, and a mechanic for their motorcycle despite having no money. I thought this was rather ingenious of him. A little stretch of the truth perhaps but proved he had the resourcefulness needed in a good leader.

When the friends reached the leper colony is when Ernesto really began to shine. His ability to reach out and befriend the people afflicted with the disease showed great compassion. The scene where he swam across the river, risking his life, so that he could celebrate his birthday with the leper colony demonstrated his bravery. He never could get over the fact that the doctors, nurses, and nuns separated themselves from the lepers. He was able to empathize with the people of the leper colony. Compassion, bravery, and empathy are all good leadership qualities.

I really enjoyed this movie. I was saddened that such a dynamic person portrayed in the movie was eventually murdered. People change as they age and I have no idea what Ernesto came to be like as he grew older, but as a nurse I know it is often rare to find a doctor with so much compassion and empathy. -Kisha Williamson

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

My first impression of this movie was one of ridicule. I thought that this movie was terrible and utterly ridiculous. A funny thing happened when I started to think about possible underlying meanings to this film. I realized that even though the movie took place in Madrid, Spain it could have been anywhere. The entire movie was about heartbreak and the crazy things women do when the feel out of control of the situation. The movie portrayed a woman, Pepa, who after having a torrid love affair found out she was pregnant. Only she found out she was pregnant after she found out the father was a gigolo. The emotional state of heartbreak plus the added emotional aspect of being pregnant made this woman crazy. Often times, Women who feel betrayed by a loved one have thoughts of murder and mayhem. While not usually acted on, most of us have had these thoughts at one point or another. Many times we feel as though we cannot bear to live without the other person so thoughts of suicide surface. Pepa putting all of the sleeping pills in a blender of gazpacho is a good example of the way women often plan suicides. I have seen women time and time again make stupid mistakes when it comes to being jilted, as I am sure I have as well. The pattern seems to be feelings of hurt, then anger, then feelings of possible reconciliation, hurt, and then finally acceptance of the situation. Pepa in this movie showed the myriad of feelings one experiences in this difficult time. At first,Pepa was sad and tearful. She then threw the phone through the glass door. After that, she started calling him wanting to tell him of the pregnancy in hope it would make a difference. Next, she was upset and throwing his suitcase in the dumpster. When she finally saw him, saved his life, and had the opportunity to tell him about the baby she decided it just wasn't worth it.
The first jilted lover, Lucia, was a classic example of the quote "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". The interesting thing about her is that she was portrayed to be "mentally ill." I would tend to agree that to hold a grudge for that long she was mentally ill. I guess there is a fine line between being truly mentally unstable and the behavior of one female slighted by the man she loves.
This movie could have happened anywhere. Love and being heartbroken is universal. Women and men all over the world have had these same feelings portrayed in this film at one point in their lives. I don't think a thing would change about this movie had it been filmed in the United States. I don't think that the feelings were exaggerated overmuch in this film.
There were a few things that I didn't quite grasp about the movie as well. What was up with the cab driver? I really didn't get that one. Why did the young man played by Antonio Banderas just start kissing that girl all of the sudden? I guess the only relevance I can come up with is that they were trying their best in the movie to cast men in the worst possible light. The girlfriend who came over after being tricked by the terrorists represented the fact that misery loves company. All in all, this movie was very strange to say the least.
Lachisha Williamson

Machuca

The differences in social classes in the film Machuca were very apparent. Gonzalo was a rich kid whose parents sent him to St Patrick's School for Boys, a private Catholic school. His parents lived in a nice house with indoor plumbing, nice tableware, and a television. He had a closet full of nice clothes, Addidas tennis shoes, and his own bike. The family had a live-in housekeeper/nanny and their own car. Gonzalo and his family go out to dinner at nice restaurants and have parties. They are able to buy household supplies from a store. The portrayal of Pedro's life is a stark contrast to the way in which Gonzalo lived. Pedro, until he received a scholarship to the Catholic school, had no formal education. Pedro and his family lived across town in a shanty type community. The "houses" were built from scrap lumber and tin close together. There was no indoor plumbing and had to use an outside toilet. He had one pair of shoes and few clothes that were probably hand-me-downs or homemade. The whole family lived in one room. The mom was pictured hard at work digging holes with the little baby beside her. Pedro had to walk to and from school, often going to work for a neighbor afterward selling flags and cigarettes to government protestors.

The most significant point for me was despite the differences in wealth, each family had their own inner turmoil. Gonzalo's mother was having an affair with a wealthy married man. She would take Gonzalo with her to her sexual escapades. He was forced to wait and to keep the information from his dad. Pedro's dad was a drunk who would try to take their last few coins to buy liquor. The mom having to all of the household chores and take care of the baby had little time to spend with Pedro. So, despite their obvious material differences, they each had their own set of problems.

I liked the movie but thought it terribly sad when the poor people were persecuted for their supposed support of communism. Living in a great country that I do, having freedom of speech, I cannot imagine something like this occuring. It seems to me that the country of Chile traded one evil for another when the Marxist president was killed and the military government took power. As much as I wish this type of treatment wasn't possible, it happens all to often in poor third world countries where the differences between rich and poor are so vast. Money is used to take advantage.