Real Women Have Curves Summary

While most movies of the 2000s somehow spoke about sex among young adults, for the first time the emphasis is on the virginity of a Mexican American female. In part this topic is not discussed openly, it is only discussed awkwardly in a mother to daughter conversation. This movie opens the eye to many families conservative other this matter, Ana’s mother openly shames her daughter to losing her virginity to a random person which was not the case. In this scene, rather than have a heartwarming conversation with her daughter she is angry possibly at her daughter but possibly at herself for not knowing what her daughter was doing. Ana is prepared to lose her virginity and is responsible to purchase contraceptives something also talked about but mostly whispered in the chicano community. Ana states that women get pregnant not because they are having sex but because they are having it unprotected or don’t know how to use different methods of contraceptive. The talk among Mexican American families is not how to use contraceptives rather it is do not get pregnant or “ELSE”. Real Women Have Curves shows that the real problem is not getting pregnant it is the lack of communication Mexican American women have with their

parents, particularly mother’s that causes this phenomena.
A great emphasis on positive body image is implied through the movie but one key moment is after Ana loses her virginity to Jimmy she states, “Wait. Turn the lights on. I want you to see me. See, this is what I look like.” Just as Ana exposes her naked self to Jimmy she feels that it is necessary for him to accept that is her and that she isn’t going to change. A great cast for this scene both Jimmy and Ana seem to be a young couple mature enough to go to the next step in their relationship. This also produces a topic of discussion, women but mostly Mexican American women are taught to be and look a certain way to attract the man they want but in the film, the protagonist insists that she be accepted in her own way because she is not going to change it. This scene along with the use of cine-graphic effects of darkening the room then lighting portrays a vulnerable Ana as she just exposed herself to Jimmy yet feels her body might not be the correct one for his liking. In the darkness of the room she is safe and her body cannot be judged but Ana doesn’t want to hide she wants to reveal all of herself.
Portraying a strong women Ana’s character often gets in the way of showing us her inner conflict.

On one hand we can see that she pushes back and challenges her tradition on the other hand it is difficult to not see emotion expressed by herself when she is alone. One scene that does do this is when she is buying condoms for the first time but does not know what to purchase. This small but significant scene revels that although she is strong and ready she also needs guidance through her path of adulthood. She is able to ask a pharmacist for advice but not her own mother. This lack of connection to be open up to mothers is emphasized enough to create awareness that young Mexican American women need someone to talk to and it should preferably be their

mothers.
Many scenes in this film are enjoyable to watch yet difficult to see as something that would happen in real life. At the factory Ana convinces the workers to work only in undergarments to stand the horrible heat. In real life doing something of this nature would be odd and most people like Ana’s mother would not join in simply because they are afraid of what others would say of their bodies. Scenes like this interfere with the development of Ana’s character because the viewer is given a character that is in part very real and at the same time to fictional for her humorous actions.
This film is excellent as a young Mexican American I can easily identify with Ana’s conflict of leaving her family behind to purse her interests. This film acknowledges most Chicana stereotypes and one by one is able to show that they are not true and that most are something we have decided to make true. From dealing with the pursuit of higher education, men, and body image this film uniquely wraps the topics and meanwhile portrays this in a comedic way. Being a Drama Comedy helps the movie get across its various points. For those who are traditional parents, they are able to see a reflection of themselves in Ana’s mom and even witness how unfair their treatment can be to their daughters. At the same time since it is a comedy it allows the viewer to mock many of these real life scenarios and bring down the intensity of the argument.
Various element to this movie such as setting and music allow the viewer to see before hand in what community the film will take place. Yet as far as location the film is set in a very real looking Mexican American community presenting the language and colorful traditions in them. On the contrary although the style of music used at the opening scene also lets the viewer know where the film is going, this is only the case to viewers who did not grow up in the Mexican American culture. More appropriate music would be a Selena song or a Cumbia not a Mariachi which is rarely heard nowadays or even in 2002.
With all its amazing plot Real Women Have Curves allows the viewer to have a connection with the film. Being so similar to what a Mexican American women grow up around the film is an easy way of expressing at least on thing a Chicana has felt in her lifetime. Although this film is often brought down with Ana’s extreme measures to challenge her mother the film is excellent as it presents various topics directly at the viewer and others in a subtle and indirect manners. Real Women Have Curves is often too real and speaks to the real Mexican American women hiding no topic that is difficult to discuss in real life. I can recommend this movie not only on the merit of it being a good Drama Comedy but more because it can open up important topics that need addressing in Mexican American families.