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Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
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In this independent drama, Ana (America Ferrera) is a bright and ambitious 18-year-old Latina who has just graduated from high school in East Los Angeles. Ana wants to broaden her horizons and go on to college, but her mother Carmen (Lupe Ontiveros) has other ideas; Ana's older sister Estela (Ingrid Oliu) oversees the family business, a dress factory, and Carmen has decided that Ana should put higher education on hold and go to work as a seamstress. When Estela loses four employees in a week, Ana reluctantly agrees to take a job at the factory to help her out, while she applies for college scholarships without her mother's knowledge. Ana's job at the dress factory proves to be a real eye opener; she gains a new respect for Estela's business acumen, but is also appalled by the low wages and unpleasant working conditions that are part and parcel of the garment industry. While Ana is not unattractive, she carries more than a few extra pounds, a subject her mother mentions at every available opportunity, and as Ana encourages her co-workers at the shop to stand up for themselves and gain a greater perspective of their own worth, she takes a long hard look at her own self-image. Real Women Have Curves won the Audience Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, while actresses America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros received a Special Jury Prize at the same festival for their performances. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, (more)
Director(s):
Patricia Cardoso
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Real Women Have Curves

In this independent drama, Ana (America Ferrera) is a bright and ambitious 18-year-old Latina who has just graduated from high school in East Los Angeles. Ana wants to broaden her horizons and go on to college, but her mother Carmen (Lupe Ontiveros) has other ideas; Ana's older sister Estela (Ingrid Oliu) oversees the family business, a dress factory, and Carmen has decided that Ana should put higher education on hold and go to work as a seamstress. When Estela loses four employees in a week, Ana reluctantly agrees to take a job at the factory to help her out, while she applies for college scholarships without her mother's knowledge. Ana's job at the dress factory proves to be a real eye opener; she gains a new respect for Estela's business acumen, but is also appalled by the low wages and unpleasant working conditions that are part and parcel of the garment industry. While Ana is not unattractive, she carries more than a few extra pounds, a subject her mother mentions at every available opportunity, and as Ana encourages her co-workers at the shop to stand up for themselves and gain a greater perspective of their own worth, she takes a long hard look at her own self-image. Real Women Have Curves won the Audience Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, while actresses America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros received a Special Jury Prize at the same festival for their performances. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
86 mins

Complete Cast of Real Women Have Curves


Director(s):
Patricia Cardoso
Writer(s):
George LaVoo, Josefina Lopez
Producer(s):
Effie Brown, George LaVoo
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13(Sexual Situations, Adult Language, Watch With Your Teen)
Real Women Have Curves Awards:
  • 2002 - National Board of Review - Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking
  • 2001 - Sundance Film Festival - Special Dramatic Jury Prize for Acting
  • 2001 - Sundance Film Festival - Special Dramatic Jury Prize for Acting
  • 2001 - Sundance Film Festival - Dramatic Audience Award
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    Deborah S.

    Finally! A movie that cheers heavy set women. The story centers around a recent H.S. graduate who is happy in her own skin but her mother wants her to become thin, telling her she is not good enough for college. She continually taunts her daughter about her being overweight. The girl wants to better her life and that does not include losing weight. Hey - she even finds a thin lover. It's a good- thought-provoking chick flick.

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    Daniela N.

    While the obvious focus is on the issues a young, plus-size Latina faces, the film ultimately addresses the much broader issue of identity. One reviewer mentioned that the movie tried to accomplish too much and, as a result, only touched the surface of all those issues, and I wrestled with that for a while. I'd respond, though, that very few multi-faceted films actually resolve all the layers they consist of and instead leave us with loose ends we have to ponder. _Real Women_ does, for example, not settle the matter of the shop's dependence on rich chain stores, but I feel that resolving that and other issues and leading into an all-happy ending would take away from the narrative and turn the movie into yet another Hollywood production. I'd especially like to commend the dialogue; the movie is extremely well written, so if you're looking for more than just a plotline, you will get additional satisfaction from the many subtle, witty (and sometimes touching) exchanges.

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    Della K.

    I enjoyed the movie. I especially liked when Ana said that she would love to lose weight, but this is who she is and that she liked who she was. Ana was a very strong and smart character and did not let her weight handicap her. This movie has a good message for our "It is how you look that counts" society. Good movie.

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