Salma Hayek's upcoming movie "Beatriz At Dinner" has the Latino community very excited, and the reasons behind it are related to the current political tension between minorities and the stereotypes behind immigrants with an
Hayek is usually seen as very sophisticated and sexy characters. However, in a recent trailer released earlier in April, Hayek looks completely transformed -- it almost resembles her previous characterization of Frida Kahlo in 2002.
The trailer shows the story of a Mexican medicine practitioner who has a passion for healing therapy and is connected to nature. Beatriz, Hayek's character, appears as a polite, sincere and cultured woman that became a close friend of what seems to be a prominent white-American family in some rich neighborhood. At dinner, Hayek's character comes into conflict with an older white man that immediately labels Beatriz as an employee of the house, an undocumented immigrant and not worth listening to.
There are three important reasons behind Latinos' obsession with this movie, and here they are:
1.Latinos living in the Trump Era
In the trailer, Beatriz gets offended by the typical Trump supporter. She is told that "the world doesn't need [her] feelings, it needs jobs..." and she loses herself over a dead animal picture she is shown on a smartphone by the person who hunted it and killed it.
2. Typical stereotypes of being Latino
Not all Latinos work as housekeepers, and not all Latinos came to the U.S. illegally. And no! It is not funny to make those references anymore. Not only are they old and non-original, but inquiring about other's legal status is a rude practice
3. Having an accent does not make one stupid.
Being foreign-born does not make you less smart, or means you do not understand what others are saying just because your pronunciation is not American. Beatriz's antagonist quickly refuses to hear Beatriz as soon as he hears her talk. He diminishes her knowledge and interrupts her constantly.
Such criteria are reflected in everyday Latinos' lives. Yet, the best part about the trailer is watching Beatriz put the Trump supporter on and sympathize with her place. Latinos are smart and strong, and their ability to live within two cultures gives them the advantage to see things different. they are not to be ignored and they are not to be labeled.
"Beatriz At Dinner" will be in theaters on June 4th.