TWU is hosting its inaugural Latinx Film Festival April 16-21. The festival will feature five films, two shown on April 16 in Administrative and Conference Tower room 301 and three streamed online.
The festival is being organized by the Department of Language, Culture and Gender Studies. For more information, please contact Dr. Angela Mooney at amooney4@twu.edu
Schedule
April 16 in ACT 301
- 5 p.m. - Alice Júnior
- 6:30 p.m. - Luchadoras
April 17-21, streaming online
- Seeds: Black Women in Power
- Adriana’s Pact
- Guie’dani’s Navel
Alice Júnior
Gil Baroni (Brazil/2019) 87 min
April 16 in ACT 301 at 5 p.m.
Preview: https://vimeo.com/511406280
Alice Júnior is a carefree, spoiled trans YouTuber with everything she could ask for: an apartment in a cool beach town, a loving dad, her own advice vlog, an almost-win on Teen Top Model, and a cat named Rhinoceros. So, when her father announces their move from the vibrant Brazilian city of Recife to a small, conservative town in the south and to an old-fashioned catholic school, Alice has to prepare herself for the prudery and small-mindedness she will confront there. The teenager, however, doesn’t let the initial hostility get her down. Alice releases her truest survival instinct to make her new schoolmates and teachers rethink their conservative ways, and catch her long-overdue first kiss: by being loud and unapologetically herself.
With fast-moving cuts set to pop samples and sound effects, a hint of glitz, and a bagful of emojis, this coming of age gem is a breath of fresh air; a reminder that even amidst heavy socio-political turmoil stories of trans-Brazilians radiate life, joy, and infinite possibility.
Alice Júnior is a celebration of rebellious youth and offers the potential for future generations to rethink outdated perspectives of gender, sexuality, and differences as a whole.
Luchadoras
Paola Calvo, Patick Jasim (Germany 2021) 93 min
April 16, ACT 301 at 6:30 p.m.
Preview: https://vimeo.com/827212320
Luchadoras provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of three resilient female wrestlers in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, who courageously challenge traditional gender norms in the face of pervasive machismo. Amidst a society dominated by rigid expectations, these women redefine the image of women in Mexico.
Mini Serinita, despite working in a disenfranchising factory, aspires to become a full-time Luchadora, breaking free from societal constraints. Lady Candy, who can see the U.S. border from her house, grapples with visa regulations preventing her from reuniting with her daughters in the United States. Meanwhile, Baby Star, a young single mother with a Lucha Libre childhood, seeks a comeback, embodying the spirit of Mexican passion.
Through their stories, these Luchadoras present a powerful and new image of womanhood in Mexico, challenging stereotypes and showcasing strength, resilience, and determination in the face of societal expectations.