September Latina Flick Picks

September Flick Pick: Sister Outsider Entertainment

Theme: La Llorona

By Elisha Miranda & Sofia Quintero

Fearless

Rosie Perez won several awards and even an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a grieving mother in this gripping 1993 film based on the Raul Yglesias novel of the same name. After surviving a plane crash that killed most passengers including his friend and business partner, architect Max Klein (Jeff Bridges) finds himself feeling unusually alive. He no longer fears death and believes he’s invulnerable. His therapist (John Turturro) characterizes Max’s fearlessness as dangerous denial and pairs him with Carla Rodrigo (Perez), the other survivor he has been unable to reach.  Carla blames herself for the death of her two-year old son. Although their response to their survival is radically different, Max and Carla have an instant connection, and their growing bond threatens to destroy their marriages even as it heals their souls.

In a performance that proves she’s capable of playing characters radically different from the girl in the ‘hood, Perez as Carla reveals all the nuances of grief from her anger at the fight attendant who advised her to hold her baby in her arms to the capacity for laughter that still exists despite profound loss.  Carla sheds tears to express a range of emotions beyond grief.  Whether or not you personally have gone through an experience such as hers, FEARLESS is sure to move you in way or another so get your media journal and let it all pour at out as you watch the movie and consider the following questions.

1)    List all the instances when Carla is moved or almost moved to tears.  What are the specific circumstances that move her?  Now in one word, select the emotion that best captures the emotion sparked by each circumstance.  Was choosing only one word easy or difficult.  Why do you think that is?  Can you recall at least one time you expressed each of those emotions with tears?  What was the message that your tears gave you about the circumstances that provoked them. Do you think you would’ve gotten the message had you not been moved to tears by the circumstances.

2)    Regardless of why she cries, Carla never apologizes for her tears.  Can you recall a time when you apologized for yours? Why did you feel compelled to apologize? Under what circumstances do you feel you have permission to cry?  Why do you think society is invested in prescribing when it is permissible or not permissible to cry in front of others?  Imagine how your life might be different if you safe to cry whenever you were moved.  Go ahead. Try it. Take a particular scenario from your past and imagine how your life might have changed if only you released the tears you were feeling at that moment instead of repressing them? Were you raised in a family or environment where tears were considered a sign of weakness? Have you had an experience were you cried in front of others and later realized that it was a brave thing to do?

3)    When people see a person crying, they automatically assume that she is sad or maybe even frightened, but as you know, people cry for a variety of reasons.  One reason we cry is because we are angry as Carla did in the group therapy scene.  What particular circumstances cause you cry when you are angry? Why do you think they you cry rather than express your anger in other ways? What is the gift in tears of rage?

4)    Carla tells her husband, “I understand that I’m alone.” Have you ever cried because you felt alone?  Have you ever cried because you realized the opposite – that you were not alone at all? Were these tears of hopelessness? Or were they tears of joy?

5)    The film ends with positive tears so let’s end this on a positive note, too. Recall a time when you cried tears of joy.  Challenge yourself to evoke all your senses and relive the moment. See if you can give yourself a joyous cry. ☺