Luminarias

Rating:
Summary: Very Insightful
Review: I watched this movie last night was really touched by it. It spoke to the heart of what Mexican Americans face on a daily basis. The complexity of the story lines were very realistic to me. As a minority in this country I could identify with some of the struggles that these women faced. Its just a fact of life. On certain levels there are no easy solutions. Certain aspects of these women showed them as being "flawed" in some way, but I appreciated how they helped each other through some of the "madness". We all have issues that plague us, but it matters how we allow them to help us grow. Either we embrace them or let them hinder how we relate to others. Even in the face of assumptions about "other" races (or lifestyle chosen) that were made, there were moments when the main characters had to re-examine how they previously felt. I would say that they were enlightened, maybe not completely changed..but more aware. This film really could have been played out within any racial group in some way all of us have had to think about these things. I also enjoyed how it examined how females and males relate to one another as well.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Example of What Latino Audiences Need!
Review: Seldom have I seen a movie that was a sleeper where I had to patiently wait as long as I did for it to be out on DVD! I'm glad it is finally out I worried that it would never be out! I have been looking for Luminarias since shortly after I viewed it at one of the very few local theatres that featured this wonderful movie. I viewed it with a fellow latina who also loved it. No explanation can do it justice it is just a wonderful portrayal of the latino operational & biological family dynamic! It encompasses the beauty and shortcomings in our culture group as well as the many facets surrounding many of our interpersonal relationships. The movie's flavoring with just the right Spanish language words made it unique and no one will be able to duplicate this movie. Not to take away from Waiting to Exhale but I disagree that it was a latino version of Waiting to Exhale... it can stand on its own merits it doesn't need and should not be compared. Latina women will likely be able to appreciate it a bit more due to many of its unique cultural aspects.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful from beginning to end!
Review: This film is fun and joyous as it explores relationships in the context of ethnicity and identity. Latin life in L.A. is embraced and beautifully depicted. The pace is quick and light, even though it is touching on some very tough issues and allows each of the central characters to grow in unexpected ways. My teenage daughters and I saw the film when it was first released at the theaters and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We have been anxiously awaiting its release to DVD, and we have enjoyed it even more the second time around. The film deserved much more attention at the box office. Maybe it will find a larger audience now. We highly recommend this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Viva las mujeres!
Review: This is a Latina version of "Waiting to Exhale" the latinas are strong, witty, smart, intelligent and beautiful. A great movie to share with your comadres and your closest girlfriends. It's a comical movie with a lot of charm and wit. Watch it, you won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: To the contrary...almost alright
Review: This is an idealized but rather narrow characterization of Latinas. The film's weakness, contrary to the other reviews, is the writing. The male characters are pat and two-dimensional. Even the "cholo" professor (Cheech Marin) gets re-played as the proverbial "if only it were so" Chicano sight gag. The female characters, like the over/under-sexed Virgen-de-Guadalupe-devotee Irene (Angela Moya) whose persona manages to trivialize Catholic Lenten spirituality, seem shallow and undeveloped.
Only Sofia (Marta Du Bois) and Andrea (Evelina Fernandez, incidentally also this film's writer) develop any depth. Ironically, most believable of all is Andrea's abused divorce client (played by Seidy Lopez) who is type-cast in a role all too closely mirroring her brilliant chola portrayal in Mi Vida Loca.
Warning!: the film tackles racial-political issues from shaky ground...the 'rage' of the oppressed minority class that Andrea harbors rings ingenuous. 'White oppression!' she proclaims, from the balcony of her lawyer mansion, or from behind her executive desk safe within the high-rise realm of white power structures. As a Latino/a one can sympathize with anti-white/male bent, but it is at times shrill and probably out of sync with the experience of upwardly mobile Latinas at large.
This film is praise-worthy for the effort to take on so many issues at once, and is visually striking in moments, due to the art direction of noted Chicana artist Patsi Valdez. It also takes an interesting and all too short side-track into Banda sub-culture. It is worth watching though, because the genre is so rare and endangered. It conveys the sedate warmth of Latino family life and friendships convincingly, and does seem to typify the inter-racial scope of contemporary Chicano life in L.A.

Rating:
Summary: To the contrary...almost alright
Review: This is an idealized but rather narrow characterization of Latinas. The film's weakness, contrary to the other reviews, is the writing. The male characters are pat and two-dimensional. Even the "cholo" professor (Cheech Marin) gets re-played as the proverbial "if only it were so" Chicano sight gag. The female characters, like the over/under-sexed Virgen-de-Guadalupe-devotee Irene (Angela Moya) whose persona manages to trivialize Catholic Lenten spirituality, seem shallow and undeveloped.
Only Sofia (Marta Du Bois) and Andrea (Evelina Fernandez, incidentally also this film's writer) develop any depth. Ironically, most believable of all is Andrea's abused divorce client (played by Seidy Lopez) who is type-cast in a role all too closely mirroring her brilliant chola portrayal in Mi Vida Loca.
Warning!: the film tackles racial-political issues from shaky ground...the 'rage' of the oppressed minority class that Andrea harbors rings ingenuous. 'White oppression!' she proclaims, from the balcony of her lawyer mansion, or from behind her executive desk safe within the high-rise realm of white power structures. As a Latino/a one can sympathize with anti-white/male bent, but it is at times shrill and probably out of sync with the experience of upwardly mobile Latinas at large.
This film is praise-worthy for the effort to take on so many issues at once, and is visually striking in moments, due to the art direction of noted Chicana artist Patsi Valdez. It also takes an interesting and all too short side-track into Banda sub-culture. It is worth watching though, because the genre is so rare and endangered. It conveys the sedate warmth of Latino family life and friendships convincingly, and does seem to typify the inter-racial scope of contemporary Chicano life in L.A.

Rating:
Summary: Luminarias
Review: This movie has so much to offer. I have seen this many times and i enjoy it each and every time. This movie really shows how Latinas in the real aspects of reality. This has a powerful message saying that women of color (latinas) are worth gold and that no matter what we can make it. The friendships in this movie is great, dysfunctional but great. It really shows how interracial relationships effect others and how good it is at the end. To not try something new and different doesnt' always mean that it's a bad thing! Que sige la movida de peliculas como esta!

Rating:
Summary: Rascist Waste of Time
Review: This movie was so rascist against whites. The author has this "rage" within her. What a joke. White people are not responsible for the problems of Hispanics. Creepy film!

Rating:
Summary: Disregard the "racisit" review...
Review: Without causing trouble this film was misinterrpreted by a fail -to-mention film critic. Although at times within this movie there are comments made about "white" americans, the humor and message lies within all the mess...humor. The missed message within this film is the directors real life adaptation of the Mexican-American, the true to life personas that the characters in the movie portray. Although quality conscious minds see fit to class this flick as a Grade "B" film, nonetheless the hilarious diologue and character development is great. Besides where can you see Scott Backula play a Jewish Lawyer?