Sobreviviendo Mis XV

I watched this movie in the cinema here in Mexico and was surprised by how gripping the story was. It is very funny and it definitely made me laugh out loud as well as many others in the cinema with its well-crafted jokes. For anyone who lived their teen years in Mexico like me, this movie is highly relatable and authentically Mexican. It is a great portrayal of a teenage girl's typical problems such as high school, family, making new friends, and keeping old friends happy all at the same time. Overall, I really enjoyed it because it gave a realistic and comedic portrayal of such a significant time in every Mexican girl's life- her XV.

"Sobreviviendo Mis XV" is a film that may sound simple, but the script touches on a more complex story about what it takes to throw a quinceañera party in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, from debt to family problems and in other cases successful parties. This time the plot focuses from the perspective of a lower-middle class teenager whose family has risen to a high economic position and the clash of cultures she has with her traditional parents and her wealthy friends from her new high school. Her parents want a "naca" party (related to Kitsch) and her friends want something "fresa" (related to elegance), during the course of the film its protagonist has a metamorphosis from girl to woman, a change that is about finding yourself and being accepted as such. The worlds of the different social classes from their clash end up accepting each other, perhaps momentarily but they deal with the tastes of others and give Danae, the protagonist, her change to the life of a teenager who begins to mature as a human being. The performances fulfill their purpose, and it is worth mentioning that the cinematography goes through well-made processes and from there it is underplayed in some scenes, perhaps trying to portray the cultural clash of what is considered in bad taste and what is considered in good taste (or maybe it's just not so well done cinematography). In general, the film succeeds in entertaining in a more discreet but satirical way and touching on dramatic elements of the now obsolete quinceañera parties. A film that fulfills its purpose of existing and although it does not show it in its cinema trailers, it tells an interesting story from the most traditional perspectives of Mexico and the perspectives with American and European overtones that have also been adopted in Mexico.

I felt like this movie was made for me. It all makes so much sense. The representation of the main character's relationships are spot-on. This movie has so much heart and genuinity. It shows the difference between generations really well, how times changes and the social commentary complemented it well. The way they wrote how adolescence is it's so real, we value friendships and acceptance so much, she wanting to do everything her friends suggested to keep fitting in is incredibly real. I could feel the character's social anxiety, 100%. I absolutely adore her friendship with her best friend, it means everything to me. It was so moving, it for real made me cry in the theather.

It is a mix between drama, choral comedy and a story of growth that will make you have a good time full of laughter. With this film I have learned that a film should not be judged by its poster, nor by its director, and much less by its actors. Cinema connects in different ways with each individual and relates to the lived experiences, social and family context. In this way, cinema achieves something different for each person, at least entertaining you, and if you are lucky, you will identify in some way with some of the characters and end up with a reflection. The film strikes a perfect balance between respectful representation of Mexican traditions and family, situational comedy and an effective blend with the growing up story, accompanied by a very sober teenage drama. This proves that in Mexican cinema we are reaching a new level of comedy that is not absurd or forgettable, but also touches the heart of the viewer.