Latino film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Latino film - Essay Example Similarly, the character of Frida Kahlo in 2002 Frida film (dir. Julie Taymor) is a central figure in a movie that tells the story of Frida Kahlo’s life. This character, despite some major differences from the character of Rosa, is able to fight for her own happiness and evolves as a strong representation of a Latin American woman. THESIS STATEMENT: Although women in El Norte and Frida are represented through completely different stories, time periods, and in totally different contexts, they have several important things in common. First of all, they both struggle against life circumstances; they both set out on a quest for happiness; they both evolve as strong personalities; and they both face untimely deaths without having found happiness on earth. Rosa in the Movie El Norte Rosa and her brother Enrique are the protagonists of El Norte, an epic movie about immigration and cultural conflicts and the quest for happiness. At its simplest, the movie may be perceived as a chronic led attempt of two Guatemalan teenagers to escape the brutalities of the military regime in Guatemala through illegal emigration to the United States. Rosa (Zaide Silvia Guierrez), a teenage Guatemalan girl, is portrayed epically, through a range of events in her life. She thinks, decides, acts, and eventually occupies the leading position in the film: when she dies, Enrique’s (David Villalpando) life goes empty and he supposedly commits a suicide. In this section of the paper, the focus will be put on the character of Rosa: what role it has in the film, how she changes throughout the film, how she struggles for her happiness, and how she evolves as a strong personality in due course of the film. Rosa’s central role in El Norte is evidenced by her clear decision-making part and her drive to find a better place to live, to achieve happiness and peace. An Indian woman by origin, she takes the decision to take her chances and flee to the U.S. with her brother Enrique. The off-spring of the Maya who have lived in Guatemala for centuries, Rosa makes up her mind to seek peace and happiness in a totally different culture. Raised on myths of the Mayan people, who have their own perception of the world and their own vision of life, Rosa makes a really tough decision. For her, to go to the United States or to go el norte means to enter the world totally alien and appallingly different. Yet she takes this step driven by her desire to find a home far away from the place where she was born and raised. Indeed, Guatemala failed to be her home, so Rosa hopes to find another one. While these dreams are not devoid of practical background (Rosa gets to know from Enrique that in the United States even poor people own their cars), her decision is more romantically inspired than carefully developed. Anyway, in the empty house where she and Enrique are under the threat of being murdered or abducted (just as their parents were), no one waits for them, except for the gho sts of their ancestors. Thus, there is no choice. Yet, there is hope. Hence, Rosa’s central role is displayed through her decision-making, which proves central to the whole movie. As a female character, Rosa constructs her character through a series of morose events and happenings, all of which leave an imprint on her tender yet resolute self.