Pelo Malos Film Analysis

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Marisela Lugo Feature Writing 399 Pelo Malo “He sings, he brushes his hair all day. I want to know if he is…gay,” Marta tells the doctor. Junior has thick, curly, difficult to manage hair. For Latinos born with Afro-textured or curly hair, it is referred to as “Pelo Malo” which means “bad hair.” The IDC screened Pelo Malo on September 16th, 2015 in the Student Union Theater to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The film emphasized the non-existing limitations of oppression through the portrayal of different exploited characters. It also explores the effects of belittlement and the importance of individuality through little Junior’s wish to become an international pop star. Mariana Rondon cleverly directed this film using hair as a window into Latino culture. When Junior goes to the mirror, the mirror is a window into the deepest part …show more content…

“Pelo Malo” means “bad hair” in Spanish and its derivation is often offensive. This film takes a look into a Venezuelan home that many Latin Americans can relate to. It goes through ever aspect of modern day Venezuela, racism, culture, violence, poverty, politics and homophobia through an unwanted child and his mother. The IDC is a center at UB that offers events and activities to celebrate UB’s diversity and to bring awareness to the community on accepting peoples’ differences. One of their programs is the Annual IDC Film Series. This is a film series dedicated to examining modern film from a critical lens. It celebrates heritages and experiences of people in the United States. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, IDC screened Pelo Malo on Thursday September 17th, in the Student Union Theater. Following the screening, IDC held a discussion about the films relevance, gender roles, racism, and what constitutes good

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