Mosquita y Mari

Aurora Guerro's debut is a one of those rare indie gems where the chemistry and beauty override the low budget.

The film is about Yolanda, a nerdy good girl with immigrant parents who burden her with the weight of their expectations that the sacrifices they make will pay off for their daughter. Into her life trips the titular Mari. Mari is Yolanda's neighbour who is also the same age as her. Instead of two protective parents she has a single mom desperate to make ends meet. Yolanda is seen as a burn out by those around her. But Yolanda (dubbed Mosquita by Mari because of the way she hovers around watching Mari) sees something different. The two quickly strike up an innocent friendship with Mari becoming more academically inclined while Yolanda cuts loose a little. Under it all though begins to flirt the feeling that this could turn into a little something more...

It is a beautiful touching film and writer/director Guerrero gets so much right. It's especially rare to see a story about Chicana girls that doesn't devolve into stereotype and lets them be quiet, contemplative and dreamy. The only thing slightly holding Guerrero back is the lack of budget which does make the film feel a little cheap and student-filmish in places. Still a great movie and I eagerly anticipate whatever she does next.

Mari is a tough kid who moves into town. Yolanda, a sweet kid and good student with a happy home life, befriends this petty thief and all around grouch. A beautiful friendship blossoms around a backdrop of teenage drama, parental expectation, academic pressures, boys, immigrant communities, financial instability and our protagonists hopes and fears for the future. The director allows the friendship to grown in an organic and quite realistic way.

The movie is slow and the director does not spoon-feed the viewer. We are left to read between the lines, something which is facilitated by great (bilingual) performances all around.

This film perfectly depicted the confusion and desire of two teenage lesbians. The way it begins and flows is so real and subtle. The acting, particularly of the two young girls is really well done. I enjoyed this film and am very glad I stumbled upon it.

With all the talk in political circles about immigration it was very pleasant to see a portrayal of some very good solid loving Mexican families. Films like this are important to expand peoples at times stereotypical views.

The use of music is very effective and pleasurable throughout the film.

It was also not a typical portrayal of young lesbian love. The girls seem to not really understand what is happening to them and the film does a lovely job at keeping their characters devoted friends and not just objects of lust. In fact it keeps you wondering if this love will remain unrequited?

"Mosquita y Mari" is one of the best coming-of-age movies I have seen. The friendship that grows between the two main characters, Mosquita & Mari, feels so pure, so believable... Aurora Guerrero perfectly manages to transmit the audience the feelings the two girls are experiencing... and I also think she did a great job with the mothers of both girls. A mother myself, I see in those two characters pieces of real mothers I know... My favorite portrayal is Mosquita's mother and her unspoken frustration about those truncated dreams of her youth. Very little she says on that matter, but yet we can feel it completely.

The music and the photography in "Mosquita y Mari" are also remarkable. Aurora Guerrero does a fine job portraying the bi-cultural world of the characters. This movie is an exceptional addition to the Latino film scene and it is unquestionably a must-see.

Very rarely does a film portray the confusing and beautiful moment of falling in love as a teenager. This story of a young girl called Yolanda, who finds herself learning to deal with her growing feelings toward her best friend Marie, is so accurate it can't help but to catapult you, as the viewer, back to your own moment in time when you had to deal with learning how to figure out feelings that go beyond just friendship. This film does it perfectly in the most subtle of ways. Beautiful film, beautiful story and beautiful acting. Especially good for any young questioning and/or LGB adults out there wanting characters or a story to relate to. I wish this film was around when I was a confused 15 year old girl, it would have given me hope.