Mi Vida LocaMi Vida LocaMy Crazy LifeMy Crazy Life

Allison AndersAllison Anders

Mi Vida LocaMi Vida LocaIts strengthsIts strengths

Best mainstream film on Chicano gangsBest mainstream film on Chicano gangs Its attention to details of everyday lifeIts attention to details of everyday life Its faithful rendition of the style, stance, Its faithful rendition of the style, stance,

posture, gestures, the mannerisms and posture, gestures, the mannerisms and speech of so many Homegirls (ala speech of so many Homegirls (ala American Me)American Me)

Used an authentic location, using Used an authentic location, using authentic charactersauthentic characters

Its StrengthsIts Strengths

Authentic nicknames such as Blue Eyes, Authentic nicknames such as Blue Eyes, Giggles, Whisper, Sad Girl and MouseyGiggles, Whisper, Sad Girl and Mousey

Emphasis on sisterhood and survival as Emphasis on sisterhood and survival as independent and single women—female independent and single women—female solidaritysolidarity

Does not glamorize violence, shows its Does not glamorize violence, shows its tragic human consequencestragic human consequences

Welcomed community members into the Welcomed community members into the film (Salt of the Earth-Bread and Roses)film (Salt of the Earth-Bread and Roses)

The CriticismsThe Criticisms Confirmation of negative stereotypes of Chicanas Confirmation of negative stereotypes of Chicanas

as welfare dependentsas welfare dependents Its nihilism, (belief that all values are baseless, Its nihilism, (belief that all values are baseless,

extreme pessimism, no beliefs, no loyalties—F. extreme pessimism, no beliefs, no loyalties—F. Nietsche) its downbeat resolutionNietsche) its downbeat resolution

Plays “on every stereotype ‘mainstream’ America Plays “on every stereotype ‘mainstream’ America thinks about urban gang life”—Rosa Arrietathinks about urban gang life”—Rosa Arrieta

It depicts teenagers without ambition, “drifting It depicts teenagers without ambition, “drifting downward into chaos and dead-end lives—Susan downward into chaos and dead-end lives—Susan Gerhard, “True Colors,” Gerhard, “True Colors,” San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay Guardian, Guardian, August 3, 1994August 3, 1994

Rosalinda FregosoRosalinda FregosoThe CritiqueThe Critique

Homegirls don’t get pregnant from the Homegirls don’t get pregnant from the same guy—they have more respect than same guy—they have more respect than thatthat

A Homeboy does not obsess over a A Homeboy does not obsess over a lowrider truck at the expense of his kidslowrider truck at the expense of his kids

Rival gangs fight over turf, never over a Rival gangs fight over turf, never over a carcar

Anders got the “form” of gang culture—Anders got the “form” of gang culture—not the “substance”not the “substance”

FregosoFregosocontinuedcontinued

Unrequited love—comes from Unrequited love—comes from Anders’ own story—transferred this Anders’ own story—transferred this to the affair between La Blue Eyes to the affair between La Blue Eyes and El Duranand El Duran

The lowrider truck segment was an The lowrider truck segment was an invention by another screenwriter invention by another screenwriter (Kurt Voss)(Kurt Voss)

The part about two homegirls The part about two homegirls becoming pregnant from the same becoming pregnant from the same guy is taken from a story her guy is taken from a story her daughter heard on the streetsdaughter heard on the streets

Fregoso, Fregoso, continuedcontinued

Left untold is the elaborate support Left untold is the elaborate support network of mothers, grandmothers, network of mothers, grandmothers, aunts who visit them in jail, bail them aunts who visit them in jail, bail them out, help deliver, feed and take care out, help deliver, feed and take care of their babiesof their babies

The battle between Chicano gangs is The battle between Chicano gangs is over the control of turf and scarce over the control of turf and scarce economic resources, not over economic resources, not over lowrider truckslowrider trucks