While we could be cynical and say that the '90s gave us a glut of growing-up-in-the-hood movies, I still recommend Allison Anders's "Mi vida loca". This look at a group of cholas in LA's rough Echo Park is one of the most hard-hitting movies out there. The protagonists are a pair of girls who were friends until they both got pregnant from the same man. Other nasty stuff follows.
Part of the movie's strength is from the casting of mostly non-professional actors in the roles. There were only a handful of recognizable names in the cast. What it adds up to is a gritty look at life in this tough barrio, and what the people have to do to survive (which is never a guarantee). Some of the scenes truly shocked me. A fine example of '90s arthouse cinema.
Oh, and the recognizable names? There was Danny Trejo, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Nicole Holofcener (another arthouse director), Spike Jonze (director of "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation") and rock band Los Lobos.
Part of the movie's strength is from the casting of mostly non-professional actors in the roles. There were only a handful of recognizable names in the cast. What it adds up to is a gritty look at life in this tough barrio, and what the people have to do to survive (which is never a guarantee). Some of the scenes truly shocked me. A fine example of '90s arthouse cinema.
Oh, and the recognizable names? There was Danny Trejo, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Nicole Holofcener (another arthouse director), Spike Jonze (director of "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation") and rock band Los Lobos.