DVD Review: Real Women Have Curves (B)

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Directed by Patricia Cardoso
Starring America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiverso, Ingrid Oliu, Brian Sites and George Lopez
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: B
Review by Scott Standish

Ana is graduating from her Los Angeles high school and is not sure about which direction to take in life. Her teacher wants her to apply to college but her parents want her to work for the family business, a dress manufacturing plant. Real Women Have Curves deals with issues of identity, self worth and how hard people will fight to achieve their dreams.

Ana is a young girl that is being tested by just about everyone: her family, her teacher, and most importantly, herself. When Ana wins a full scholarship to Columbia, the family steps up the guilt, forcing Ana to choose working in a sweatshop for her family. Her dreams of going to school seem a million miles away. As the summer progresses, she learns how to bond with her coworkers and work together as a team. Ana starts up a relationship with a boy and is starting to feel more confident about herself in general. Her choices become clearer as she forms a stronger self of identity and its refreshing to see this character mature.

Director Patricia Cardoso Won the Audience Award at Sundance, and America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros won Special Jury prizes for their acting. Well acted and smartly scripted, Real Women Have Curves is a nice little movie that many have overlooked. Don't make the same mistake: give a look to Real Women Have Curves, an excellent story of a young person growing into adulthood.

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