Someone asked about the Rosie Perez New Documentary

[Lost-in-FL]

Here is it!

It is called: "Yo soy boricua. Pa'que tu sepas".

http://vivirlatino.com/2006/06/12/rosie-perez-tired-of-explaining-her-culture.php#more

and

http://www.ifc.com/ifc/what?CAT1=6967&AID=16309&CLR=black&BCLR=000000

Actress Rosie Perez says she got so fed up with trying to explain her cultural background to people that she decided to make a documentary about it, according to Star Pulse:

Rosie Perez was compelled to make her directorial debut a documentary about her roots because she was sick of having to explain her Puerto Rican pride to others. Perez was born and raised in New York but was always taught to take pride in her Latino roots.

After realizing how tough American life can be for Puerto Rican ex-patriots she decided to make a movie about her parents' homeland. And, while making "Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'que Tu Lo Sepas! (I'm Boricua, Just So You Know!)," the actress recalled childhood memories where she was made to feel stupid - because of her background.


NEXT SHOWING IS ON JUNE 27 @ 7:30 PM in IFC

[LaReservaPr]

1. I saw it on IFC

and the more i think about it the less i like it. Maybe being a puerto rican living on the island I expected something different. I think it was poorly researched and it played out as deep as my 6th grade History of Puerto Rico textbook.

[Lost-in-FL]

2. Interesting...

I am planning on watching the next show. I am curious.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[LaReservaPr]

4. Thanks for the welcome.

Ive been here since 2004 but i hardly post I just read and bookmark. My main problem with the documentary is that it practically jumped over our African roots and just focused on the Taino indians entirely. And in this documentary i believe that she could have taken on the subject of the incredible amount of racism that exist in Puerto Rico towards black people. And how so many puerto ricans from the older generations hardly acknowledge our African roots at all even though they are so important to who we are. Like when our grandparents say: "Es negro pero es bueno"(He's black but he's good).

Also aside from the fact that the documentary mentions how puerto ricans fought for the Navy to leave Vieques it doesn't really show the modern Puerto Rico that exists now. The good and the bad.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Haven't seen it, but have seen Perez...

talking about it.

She is aware of the complaints, of which there seem to be many, but it wasn't aimed at the islanders-- it was aimed at the rest of us who have less than that 6th grade knowledge of Puerto Rico. And the many who just don't understand that Puerto Ricans are US citizens but with limited rights because it is neither state nor territory, but in a strange classification all its own, and with its own history and culture far different from the mainland.

That doesn't excuse any inaccuracies or bad choices in the movie, but it does show the difficulty, perhaps impossibility, for anyone, even an experienced documentarian, to make a movie that will satisfy everyone.

[LaReservaPr]

5. I understand what you're saying

but I really did not see any real professional research that went into making this documentary. There are better ways to approach the history of Puerto Rico than just showing up at museums and saying "Oh, I didn't know that. Very interesting." If anything, i just hope that people will finally learn that puerto ricans are Unites States citizens. Its weird to be asked if you need a green card or visa to be in the United States.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. FWIW, I always liked Perez as...

a performer and she seems like a nice person, but I get the sense that she's too lightweight to pull this sort of thing off properly.

Let's say we give her a hand for trying and coming up with something halfway decent, and hope it starts a mini-trend.