Spanglish

7 out of 7

James L. Brooks writes and directs a great story with even better acting in Spanglish (2004), which traces the life of a mother-daughter combination who illegally immigrate to America for a chance at a better life.

Life is rosy for the duo in Los Angeles (48-percent Hispanic) until Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) begins adolescence and Flor’s (Paz Vega), her mother’s, maternal instinct kicks in and necessitates that she leaves her two jobs for one that will permit her evenings at home. As such, she finds her way into the Clasky household as a housekeeper and soon finds herself intertwined with the family and all of their drama. Complicating matters is a summer home that both Flor and Cristina move into with the Clasky’s so that Flor can keep her employment. Once there, a faux-romance is kindled between John Clasky (Adam Sandler) and Flor and Flor must combat the influence of her Anglo-employers, particularly Deborah Clasky (Tea Leoni), on her daughter, who fights between her heritage and her society. Simultaneous to the struggle of Cristina and Flor is the mounting problems between John and Deborah, particularly around issues of child rearing and fidelity.

The film shows just how intertwined lives can become when they all must co-exist under one roof. It does a great job of staying light enough to keep the viewer laughing, while not shirking its responsibilities to its heavier issues (multilingualism, fidelity, child-rearing, cross-culture struggles).

The film is benefited from acting that is nothing less than stellar from every cast member. It is rare to find a film where there is no critique and only compliments of every line, every expression, every pause, breath and sigh. Furthermore, Brooks writes little morals into the story, though with a style that is far removed from didacticism. For instance, when Evelyn (Cloris Leachman), Deborah’s mother, confronts her about her affair, she says, in response to Deborah’s claim that her mother has lowered her self-esteem, that “Lately, your low self-esteem is just good common sense.” Such poignant and calmly delivered lines make this film a pleasure to watch time and again.

Finally, the film achieves a sort of realism that does justice to its sensitive topics, as well as allows certain personal and cultural issues to be worked out in as real a manner as possible on the screen so as to help the viewer work through the same issues in their own lives. This is truly a story that exists to be engaged with by the viewer and can enrich that life thereafter.