|
By PAUL BRENNER
HBO Video has
released one of the big winners at the 2002
Sundance Film Festival -- Patricia Cardosa's "Real
Women Have Curves." Cardosa and screenwriters
Josefina Lopez and George LaVoo adapt Lopez's
stage version into an enjoyable character study of
a young Hispanic women (America Ferrara) in Los
Angeles who must deal with her
confidence-destroying mother (the great Lupe
Ontiveros) as she wrestles with whether to leave
her close-knit family for a scholarship to
Columbia University.
The plot points of the tale are as old as dirt but
Cardosa manages to weave a nicely hewn character
study through and around the hoary clichés. It's
all been done before, it's all been written in the
book, but Cardosa succeeds in adding a melancholy,
kitchen sink realism that belies the tale. The
best thing about the film is not only experiencing
the fine performance by newcomer Ferrara but in
relishing seeing Ontiveros in a non-maid role and
she plays her part for all its worth.
The special features include two audio
commentaries -- one with Ferrara and Ontiveros and
the other with Cardosa, Lopez and LaVoo. Two
featurettes -- one in Spanish and one in English
-- is also included, along with cast and crew
bios. The film is in Dolby 5.1 and Dolby Surround
and is available in both the Spanish and English
theatrical versions. "Real Women Have Curves" is
subtitled in English, Spanish, and French. |
