christa boshears motorcycle diaries

 During his adventure across South America, Ernesto encountered many people who suffered injustcies because of their socioeconomic class and political beliefs. He encounters people who are homeless, hungry, risking their lives in the mines to make money. He sees leapors who are isolated because of their illness. Ernesto sympathizes with these people and is inspired to make a difference.

Ernesto's integrity and honesty are evident when he tells the man about the tumor on his neck. Even though his honesty could tend to get him into troublem it is evident that Ernesto has high morals. He makes a point to help the leapors that are isolated. He refuses to wear gloves when he sees them to show them compassion. He gives his only money to a poor couple who are homeless and have nothing. I think these examples from the movie show that Ernesto had good morals and good leadership qualities

I think the main differences between celebrations in South America and the United States are that although food is a big part of both, food is seen as a luxury and is valued very much in South American culture. So at a Latin American party, it is a high honor to have lots of food as part of the celebration. While in the U.S. , food at a celebration is common and expected. It is not as significant, it is just part of the norm.

el mariachi

Common Mexican stereotypes in this movie nclude: violenc or the "bandido-violence" with the multitude of gun related violence over money. Moco's men carry their guns openly into the streets not caring who sees them shooting. The movie has a disregard for human life as demonstrated by the two opposing "gangs." They are not phased by shooting and killing multiple numbers of men and they don't care who might be innocently hurt in the process. The movie also has the "macho" man stereotype as again the two men Azul and Moco are battling to kill eachother over a money feud. Also Moco has a female who attends to him constantly giving him manicures, fetching him drinks. She is at his beck and call. Moco also tries to womanize Domino so he can sleep with her. He buys her nice things in hopes that she will "give herself to him." At the end when Moco ends up killing Domino, I think it shows how selfish he is, not having any concern for others but fulfilling his own wants/needs. I think the statement: "All he wants to do is be a Mariachi," signifies the tragedy of the movie. All this man wants to do is  carry on a family legacy and be a Mariachi like his father and grand-fathers yet he is forced into violence and gets heart-broken when he loses the woman he loves, all becuase of selfidh, ignorant violence. The role of the music in Hispanoic culture is important, however, in this film, I think the music was used inappropriaetly. It was too suspenseful through-out the movie. The movie was not very impressive, but does in fact reveal common stereotypes associated with Mexican culture.

Machuca

Pedro and Gonzalo are two young children growing up in two very different worlds, yet the they are not all that different. Gonzalo is a rich child who goes to a private school, St Patricks which is made up of the wealthy, non-socialist children. He is kind, unselfish and seems as though he doesn't feel like he belongs. Pedro comes from a poor, socialist background, he has a strong character and is not afraid to stick up for himself. The two boys meet when St Patrick's integrates some of the poor children. As far as the interaction between the two children, I think they represent a sense of humanity and toleracne. While they are just children, society says they shouldn't be friends. Gonzalo is rich, goes to a private school, has lots of clothes and nice Adidas shoes. Pedro lives in the slums, with an out-house for a toilet and has to work to help support his family. They come from very different backgrounds.  However, the two boys develop a companionship representing how human beings from different backgrounds can be civil and tolerant. I think tolerance, civility, humanity and compromise are key words that represent the main message of the film. While political differences tend to cause hostility between people, the bottom line is we are all human and need to respect one another even if we can't agree on political issues.

under the same moon

I think the mother had to leave the little boy so they could both have a chance at a better quality of life. She worked two jobs a day and left her son with his grand-mother until she could raise enough money to support both her and her son in America. I think it was very difficult for the mother to leave her son. That was evident when she began to cry in the beginning of the movie when she was talking to him on the phone and her son was asking her when they would be together again. It was also evident when she would talk about him to her her friends. She talked a lot about how she wanted to be with him and then how later in the movie she thought about going back to Mexico so she could be with him.

Some of the difficulties the mother faced were hiding from the police so she wouldn't be sent back to Mexico. She faced emotional distress from being away from her son. She also had to get up very early every morning and go to two diffferent jobs just to try to save money. I could imagine someone in her position would also feel a sense of hopelessness because she had already been away from her son for four years and still didn't have enough money to bring him to America.

I think the separation was difficult on the boy too because he had not seen his mother in four years, he never knew his father and he probably felt a sense of rejection from this. He clearly missed his mother because he would ask her when they would be together again. He would look at the moon at night time when he missed her, because his mother told him they were under the same moon and when he looked at it, she would be looking at it too. This was a way for them to feel close to one another. He escaped to America on his own risking kidnapping and death just to try to see his mother again. I think the little boy was faced to grow up fast because of his familial circumstances.

You can see some cultural aspects come into play when the little boy prays the "Our Father" in the van. You can also see the value they have on family when the boy's grand-mother says she "would kill them first," when the boy is afraid his aunt and uncle are going to take him away. It's also evident in the way that the boy takes care of his ill grfand-mother. You can also see the important Catholic culture when the boys grand-mother dies and the god-father of the woman takes care of the grand-mother's funeral arrangements.

I don't think this was an easy decision for the mother. She wanted a better life for her and her child, so I think she did what she thought was best.