Opening

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—— Fill the Void May 24
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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
88% The East May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31

Real Women Have Curves (2002)

tomatometer

83

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 83
Fresh: 69 | Rotten: 14

Even though Real Women is another coming-of-age tale, it's a real charmer.

92

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 25
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 2

Even though Real Women is another coming-of-age tale, it's a real charmer.

audience

73

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 10,503

My Rating

Movie Info

In this independent drama, Ana (America Ferrera) is a bright and ambitious 18-year-old Latina who has just graduated from high school in East Los Angeles. Ana wants to broaden her horizons and go on to college, but her mother Carmen (Lupe Ontiveros) has other ideas; Ana's older sister Estela (Ingrid Oliu) oversees the family business, a dress factory, and Carmen has decided that Ana should put higher education on hold and go to work as a seamstress. When Estela loses four employees in a week,

Apr 22, 2003

$5.7M

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All Critics (97) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (14) | DVD (13)

It's so underwritten that you can't figure out just where the other characters, including Ana's father and grandfather, come down on the issue of Ana's future.

November 21, 2002 | Comment (1)
Orlando Sentinel
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Real Women Have Curves is nowhere near a great film, but it is the most distinctive and appealing of entertainments.

November 15, 2002
Detroit News
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A vivid cinematic portrait.

November 15, 2002
Washington Post
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You watch for that sense of openness, the little surprises.

November 15, 2002
Washington Post
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Funny and touching.

November 15, 2002
Denver Rocky Mountain News
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What's most refreshing about Real Women Have Curves is its unforced comedy-drama and its relaxed, natural-seeming actors.

November 8, 2002
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Ugly Betty star captivates in teen drama.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

However conventional the film sometimes is, it always feels true to life, thanks to in largest part to the actresses.

January 2, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Filled with vividly etched scenes of the Latina garment workers toiling away, underpaid for the overpriced Bloomingdales bound dresses they could never afford nor fit into.

September 15, 2007 Full Review
WBAI Web Radio

One of the best things about "Real Women" is exactly that %u2013 the real sized women (and men) who fill out this endearing coming-of-age story with a physical and emotional robustness that puts the Hollywood size-three's to shame.

December 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Martha's Vineyard Times (Massachusetts)
Martha's Vineyard Times (Massachusetts)

Divertido, sensível, bem dirigido e abençoado por ótimas atuações, o filme só falha ao subestimar espectador, explicitando uma mensagem que se beneficiaria da sutileza.

August 30, 2004
Cinema em Cena

This strong little independent film packs more colour and life into its trim 86 minutes than many puffed-up blockbusters can stuff into two hours.

December 1, 2003
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

Cardoso has clearly connected with Josefina Lopez' work (originally a stage play based on her own experiences) and found something to say without making it either a feminist or a fatty tract.

April 26, 2003 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile
Urban Cinefile

It's just an honest, funny, touching story about a teen-age girl who tries to find her way after graduating high school.

April 24, 2003 Full Review

Certainly not the best film ever made but it's definitely something for the Latin community to be proud of.

April 21, 2003 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine

Real movies have characters, but not Real Women Have Curves, a fiasco of dopey characters and clumsy script.

March 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Offoffoff
Offoffoff

Audience Reviews for Real Women Have Curves

A young woman rebels against her mother in order to gain independence and a better life.
These days there is a lot of talk about the American Dream with politicians bandying about the term with little critical insight and the late, great George Carlin saying, "They call it that because you have to be asleep to believe it.;" But this is a film with its eyes wide open and a focused, almost myopic support of the possibilities that still remain for this nation's under-represented.
America Ferrera's performance as a focused, determined woman who is torn by her tradition-worshiping mother and her dreams of going to college is quite strong, and we quickly gain an admiring respect for the character as Ferrera embodies her. Likewise, the antagonist, played by Lupe Ontiveros, is believable as being able to combine love, fear, and manipulation in a single action. These are two fine actresses giving strong performances.
Though the film is able to celebrate women without demonizing men, there are nonetheless structural flaws. Director Patricia Cardoso tries to add Latin music to smooth out the film's transitions, but the scenes are unevenly short and episodic. Also, we never see much development in Ana's character. It is as though she either wakes up or starts the movie ready to give a school assembly speech to young girls about the importance of self-esteem, use of condoms, and higher education. Thus, she becomes a one-dimensional character and a mouthpiece for the director and screenwriters. Nothing she says is objectionable, but a film so invested in character should allow us more insight into her journey.
Overall, there's no reason not to show this film to every teenager in the country, regardless of ethnicity or size, but there are many reasons not to show it in film school.
May 30, 2011
hunterjt13
Jim Hunter

Super Reviewer

I enjoyed the movie. It portrays the struggle of many first generation immigrants, although the mother's resistance to her daughter going to college is unusual. America Ferrera does a great job.
August 20, 2009
Redlats

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Ana (FR)
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