Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Director:

Patricia Cardoso

Writers (WGA):

Josefina Lopez (play)
George LaVoo (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Real women take chances, have flaws, embrace life...

Plot:

This is the story of Ana, a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman...

Plot Keywords:

Faked Pregnancy | Beautiful Girl | Womens Lib | Overweight | Dressmaker

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

America Ferrera	...	Ana Garcia
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Carmen Garcia
Ingrid Oliu	...	Estela Garcia
George Lopez	...	Mr. Guzman
Brian Sites	...	Jimmy
Soledad St. Hilaire	...	Pancha
Lourdes Perez	...	Rosali
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Raúl Garcia
Felipe de Alba	...	Grandfather
José Gerardo Zamora Jr.	...	Juan José
Edgar Lujan	...	Juan Martin
Lina Acosta	...	Norma
Celina Belizan	...	Glitz Receptionist (as Celina Belazin)
Ramona Garcia Coronado	...	Singing Woman
Marlene Forte	...	Mrs. Glass

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

90 min | Switzerland:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al. | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Bern) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Company:

HBO Independent Productions

Trivia:

The producers put out a casting call for girls who were "fat" or "overweight", and had thousands of girls show up who were clearly not fat or overweight, but all thought that they were.

Goofs:

Continuity: The photograph of Ana that is tucked into Carmen's bedroom mirror disappears and reappears between shots in the final scene.

Quotes:

Carmen: [In Spanish] It's a matter of principle. It's not fair. I worked since I was 13 years old and Ana is 18 years old. Now it's her turn.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Felicidades

America The Beautiful

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES (2002) ***1/2 America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, Ingrid Oliu, George Lopez, Brian Sites, Soledad St. Hilaire, Dale E. Turner. Above average indie diamond in the rough slice of life portrayal of a Mexican American teenager (Ferrara in a remarkable acting debut) trying to cope with her dream to attend college and her quarrelsome relationship with her loving but problematic mother (Ontiveros who gives a beautifully modulated turn) whose own insecurities and frustrations are taken out on her zaftig daughter. Funny, poignant and ultimately a triumph in full-bodied (no pun intended) protagonists without compromising it's clear headed vision of how society and culture myopically decides what is pleasant to the eye (or acceptable for that matter). Finally a film that portrays Latinos in a positive light by not making it a ‘racial film' either. The screenplay by George LaVoo and Josefina Lopez (adapting her play) offers insight to familiar subject matter but with a refreshing focus on character development by not compromising it's strong message: to accept one self is to love one self. (Dir: Patricia Cardoso)