Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Director:

Patricia Cardoso

Writers (WGA):

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

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:

High School | Sewing | Education | Latino | Mariachi Band

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
Jim Ishida	...	Landlord (as Jimmy Ishida)
Pete Leal	...	Dr. Lopez
Josefina Lopez	...	Veronica
Esmerelda McQuillan	...	Pharmacy Assistant
Jose Tolentino	...	Mariachi
Sandie Torres	...	Doña Carlota
Dale E. Turner	...	Policeman (as Dale Turner)
Julia Vera	...	Doña Gorgonia
Lisa Guzman	...	Girl #1
Lackey Bevis	...	Girl #2
Michelle Moretti	...	Girl #3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Minerva García	...	Rita (uncredited)
Mylo Ironbear	...	Cook (uncredited)

Directed by
Patricia Cardoso

Writing credits (WGA)
Josefina Lopez		(play)
George LaVoo		(teleplay) and
Josefina Lopez		(teleplay)

Produced by
Marilyn R. Atlas	....	co-producer
Effie Brown	....	producer
George LaVoo	....	producer

Original Music by
Heitor Pereira

Cinematography by
Jim Denault

Film Editing by
Sloane Klevin

Casting by
Ellyn Long Marshall
Maria E. Nelson

Production Design by
Brigitte Broch

Art Direction by
Deborah Riley
Amy R. Strong

Costume Design by
Elaine Montalvo

Makeup Department
Ginger Damon	....	key hair stylist
Angela Gurule	....	department head hair
Rosemary Lawrence	....	makeup department head
Carey Martine-Wareham	....	makeup artist
Nicole Sortillon	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Nicole Colombie	....	production supervisor
Spike Allison Hooper	....	post-production supervisor
Scott Michael Nabat	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine Marie McDonald	....	second assistant director
Julian Petrillo	....	first assistant director (as Julian A. Petrillo)
Les McDonough	....	second assistant director: New York (uncredited)

Art Department
Treven Bedwell	....	lead man
Luis Blackaller	....	graphics artist
Allison Gross	....	assistant property master
Rob Henning	....	set dresser
Stacy L. Henning	....	set dresser
Emily Lawless	....	paint gangboss
Peter Mathus	....	set dresser
Mark Molina	....	assistant art director
Cynthia Nibler	....	property master

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Claudia Carle	....	adr recordist
Edmond J. Coblentz Jr.	....	sound editor
Joe Earle	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor
Carrie Lisonbee	....	assistant sound editor (as Carrie Tippets)
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialogue editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound designer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Hugh Murphy	....	assistant sound editor
John Taylor	....	sound
Drew Webster	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam Operator: New York
Alfred Castillo	....	grip
Kelly Cummins	....	loader
Louis DiCesare	....	gaffer
Tim Durr	....	best boy electric
Nicola Goode	....	still photographer
Scott M. Robinson	....	key grip
Patrick Rousseau	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Peter Burgess Smith	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Cindy Aoun	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Au	....	costume department supervisor
Cesar Magana	....	costumer
Alison Stein	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Joe Finley	....	digital colorist
Janelle Ashley Nielson	....	additional editor
Chris Regan	....	color timer

Music Department
Jellybean Benítez	....	executive soundtrack producer
P.J. Bloom	....	music consultant
Margaret Guerra Rogers	....	executive soundtrack producer
Margaret Guerra Rogers	....	music supervisor
Evyen Klean	....	executive soundtrack producer
Robin Lynn	....	music consultant
Alvaro Morello	....	composer: production music
Fernando Romay	....	music editor (as Fernando Romay Esquerra)

Transportation Department
Eli Lozano	....	driver
Sandra Ninham	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Gina Amador	....	assistant production accountant
Frank Aragon	....	location manager
Trina Calderón	....	production assistant
Juliana Colacilli	....	craft service
M. Vanessa Coto	....	production coordinator
Amy Flanders	....	assistant production coordinator
Eric Glasser	....	key set production assistant
Aurora Guerrero	....	assistant: Ms. Cardoso
Chris Miller	....	technical consultant
Tracy L. Moody	....	script supervisor
Rony Shino	....	location scout
Gary J. Sims	....	payroll services
Lynn Sisco	....	script supervisor
Elona Tsou	....	assistant: Ms. Cardoso
Lisa Womble	....	production assistant
Brian Zarka	....	production assistant
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach (uncredited)

Production Companies

• HBO Independent Productions
• LaVoo Productions
• Newmarket Films

Distributors

• Monopole-Pathé (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (Germany)
• Alfa Films (Argentina)
• BIM Distribuzione
• Gateno Films (2004) (Peru) (all media)
• HBO Independent Productions
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Avon Studio Transport  transportation
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Goldcrest Post Production London  on-line editing
• J.R. Post  negative cutting
• Kinetic Imageworks  post-production facilities

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:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | 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:

Factual errors: Ana's boyfriend, about to graduate from high school, says he will now go to "Teachers College." Teachers College is a graduate school only; it has no undergraduate program.

Quotes:

Estela: [after giving Ana a dress she made especially for her] Pretty dresses aren't just for skinny girls.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Sentirse Amado

No nonsense women!

I once read about an audition of models for an Armani fashion show. It appears the Milanese designer was rejecting everyone because he thought they were too fat to carry his clothes the way he intended. If anyone reading this comment is friendly with Giorgio, please advise him to avoid seeing this film. He's liable to have a series of strokes, or even a fatal heart attack!

What Patricia Cardoso has achieved with this film is to clarify for us that indeed, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that we should not judge the person by the image they project. What might be considered fat and ugly for the same media that only glorify the skinny people that populate the pages of the different fashion magazines, for someone else will be beautiful.

America Ferrera is a revelation. She exudes sweetness and the performance is right on the money. Her dreams to get out of the mediocrity of the factory life her mother wants for her are to be applauded because she has the smarts to make a career for herself and go to college.

The great Lupe Ontiveros plays the mother. It's a shame that this actress haven't been discovered by more directors that will employ her talents in the way she deserves. She can bring so much to a film as proved in other independent films where she has appeared. Wherever she appears one can expect the very best from her.

The rest of the cast is very good. We shall be looking forward to Ms. Cardoso's next venture with the confidence that whatever she undertakes it will be a fun time at the movies.