Episode 2: "Un amor complicado"
English subtitles https://youtu.be/sGTiGzfI9XQ
Spanish subtitles https://youtu.be/mhLM_9P5MD0
For complete capitulos go to www.Telemundo.com All entire episodes of PARIENTES A LA FUERZA can be seen On Demand with www.NBC.com app. Also available on streaming services such as Spectrum.
To show ideas about use of symbols etc. in telenovelas aren't as farfetched as may seem to anyone who never thought about it before, I do cite a few incidents from other novelas starring Guy--LA MENTIRA, 1994 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER & VIDAS CRUZADAS. To me these are more "preview of coming attractions" than spoilers--I only wish these classics were as easily available to watch as PARIENTES A LA FUERZA. Maybe, someday they will be (and perhaps my comments intended to interest & create larger audience may help this to happen...)
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DUALITY often appears in PARIENTES A LA FUERZA. Obvious examples include twins Tommy & Paz, and Cruz brothers George & Tenoch whose lives are figuratively & literally on opposite poles, one living in LA's wealthy West side, the other in lower economically oriented East LA. In first Episode, Beverly Hills "housewife" Leti chides quarreling twins that they're acting like they live in East LA--to which maid Maria comments to herself, "you wish!" Carmen suggests title for George's next film: "PARA BIEN O PARA MAL", in English "For Better or Worse", like the marriage vows--not so incidentally, her last name Jurado means to vow, take an oath, promise.
George is a writer of comedy movies, but is described by ex-wife and daughter Paz as "enojon", grumpy, "most boring person in the world". His "nearest and dearest" who lived with him for about 20 years are totally clueless about their human ATM, or possibility that how he reacts to them is their own fault, proved when his personality blossoms in San Miguel de Allende. When Leti's friends pass along gossip that George has a girlfriend, his ex-wife disbelievingly brushes aside rumor as impossible, as all he does is stay in his study and work. Sofi advises her, "People change". "La gente cambia". Begs the question, "Can people really change drastically?" Or in fact, is their "essential self" (as one wise character says) now uncovered to view after being long hidden?
Colors may have dual, opposing meanings: As noted earlier, "morada" or purple may indicate someone feels emotionally bruised or hurt. Purple is also associated with royalty. Tonia's brash violet skirt worn when welcoming George back from Mexico may convey two meanings--she'd expected to become George's new consort, replacing Leti, but instead is shocked when George introduces her to Carmen, whom he calls "la nueva reina de esta casa", "the new queen of this house". Carmen tells her family that George is a "rey" (king), treating her like royalty. Boss of mine who preferred everything in shades of purple and lavender, self-described as "Princess from Beverly Hills", at least knew--after years of therapy--she was spoiled. (If the shoe fits, wear it, Paz...)
Idea that color orange refers to "media naranja" (Spanish idiom meaning "my other or better half/my missing piece/love of my life") occurred to me during upcoming episode with bedsheets in that warm shade. Another meaning seems signaled by neon orange evoking traffic cones warning "caution", danger, such as dress worn by Tania--"a woman scorned"--trying to sabotage George's new romance. (In LA MENTIRA, there's scene when Demetrio stops car he's driving at Mexico City traffic light turning from amber to red; he says to himself that Veronica will probably tell him to go to hell, but he has to try (for reconciliation). See my review of DVD version of LA MENTIRA at www.lapl.org How I wish original uncut version was available instead of just 10 hours!
KURT'S eyeglass frames change color, like Emerald City's "horse of a different color" in movie WIZARD OF OZ. (In original book, everything in Emerald City looks green because glasses with green lenses are locked on everyone.) Juancho holds one of George's awards up to his eye, calling it a Kaleidoscope. In first Ep., Margarita (Spanish for "Daisy") asks her brother Juancho, "Con que ojos ves?", literally, "with what eyes are you seeing?" I guess meaning "How or where did you get that idea?" Watch for other visual and verbal references to seeing.
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"Dichos y refranes" (traditional sayings & words of wisdom used by Jurado family) help George get back in touch with his cultural roots. ( Ep 2) Carmen tells George her grandmother uses many DICHOS or sayings about food such as "one chooses the size of the onion one wants to cry for" ("Uno escoge el tamano de la cebolla que va llorar". I especially like "Contigo milpa es rancho, y atole champurrado", which Carmen tells George is how she feels about him. In English, means something like, "With you at my side, a small field is a ranch; plain water is nectar". (Others have translated as "Life is a bed of roses", or "our humble home is a palace". ) Contrast with how Leticia complains, after finding Robert is a pauper: "All I want is a rich, handsome husband and a super mansion. Is that too much to ask?" (Ep.3 "Familia")
Does Kurt have a curt personality? Robert/Rob feels he was robbed of his father's material wealth. But since on hearing his father had died, he and new bride Leticia smile and laugh, audience may not feel very sorry when selfish son has fit of fury, and collapses on floor (of black & white squares) from stroke that paralyses him. Robert's name will also be twisted by Leti from Bob to "bobito" (silly, fool, idiot) not so "affectionately".
When George's adopted son Andy auditions with Carmen for movie written by George, Andy tells her: "Lo que es para ti aunque te lo quites, y lo que no, ni aunque te lo pongas". I think gist of quote is: "What is meant for you, nothing can take away. IF isn't meant for you, nothing you do can help you get it." Young man doesn't realize then that he's speaking advice that can apply to impossible wish of his own.
When Carmen tosses aside her script after a glance, reminds me that Guy commented Barbara de Regil in real life has photographic memory.
Audition scene in which Carmen embraces Andy is like play CYRANO, in which title character provides words for handsome but kinda dumb young man to court woman Cyrano himself loves. Andy is merely a stand-in for George--Carmen is remembering when George said similar words of love to her in San Miguel. (In beginning of LA MENTIRA, Veronica & her actor friends planned to put on CYRANO play at her adopted cousin Juan's huge welcome home party in outdoor garden. It turns out that "unexpected guest" Demetrio substitutes himself in Juan's thwarted plans for romantic champagne for two & private slow dancing in dark with Veronica.)
Another significant remark by Andy is when he says his father went to Mexico "to find himself, and returned a new man", and wonders if it's really him or "a clone", i.e. a look-alike. another reference to PALF theme of appearance versus reality.
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George proposes to Carmen (in setting like scene from a movie) via sign reflected in swimming pool that says "Marry Me", resembling the Hollywood sign--clever visual tie-in to his profession as screenwriter. Carmen freezes, not following "the script" for such moments, confusing George about whether she means yes or no. Later she tells him, "Ayer me bloquee, me ofusque" (to be explained further in upcoming episode). When she's with him, Carmen says she feels breathless, has butterflies in her stomach; she ran off to use bathroom "from nerves". '"Siento que me falta el aire, siento mariposas en el estomago y por eso luego me dan ganas de hacer pipi."
When he tells her "you're beautiful" George says "eres hermosa", using verb "ser" which means a trait or quality that is intrinsic to someone, permanent, enduring, rather than verb "estar" which means something is only transient, passing, can come and go. Example: you look nice today (but you usually don't) would use "estar". See chapter "The Secret Life of Verbs" in very helpful, amusing book BREAKING OUT OF BEGINNER'S SPANISH by Joseph Keenan; Preface says by 2030 Spanish may be language with 2nd highest number of native speakers on the planet, and by mid-century, USA may be largest Spanish-speaking country on earth.
Carmen asks George to first tell her family he wants to marry her; the custom of making formal "pedido de mano" may still be practiced in parts of Mexico. In LA MENTIRA, because Veronica's adoptive father, bank president Teodoro is very traditional, Demetrio makes appointment to ask him for Vero's hand in marriage. http://folkloricaestereo.com/wp/ Folklorica Estereo online radio channel from Colombia often plays comic song in which formal letter by suitor (who is ugly, penniless, short but "sabroso" is answered by girl's widowed mother who concedes daughter is pretty--but also a pain in the neck--and soundly refuses the fortune hunter.
When Tania smilingly (like a crocodile) suggests to Carmen that movie studio (implying George) thinks she is "poca cosa" for her "humilde" humble pueblo origin, lime green walls of dressing room bring to mind acid-green "Quik quotes quill" used by poison-tongue reporter Rita Skeeter in HARRY POTTER. "Quoting"--or inventing-- studio gossip, Tania insinuates Carmen got starring role in film only because she is the scriptwriter's "girlfriend of the moment", like there's a revolving door for such, as was for Ivan's lovers in CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER.
Actual lime is mentioned early in episode when Carmen asks George how to squeeze fancy-cut fruit on salmon (favorite dish of his that Maria prepares instead of allowing Carmen to make her special quesadillas for dinner). Frustrated, Carmen tells George she thinks Maria is afraid she'll take her job away. As we soon see, Clio has similar fear Carmen will replace her as actress/star--a parallel on wider sociological level of fear that new immigrants will take jobs from "native born" or those who've been in country longer and/or legally.
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During Beverly Hills-style "yard sale" at Robert's mansion, Tommy describes a painting to potential buyers as being the last by the artist and showing "el Aunucio de su proprio muerte" before disappearing in the woods--a reference to novel CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (best known for LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA about couple separated in youth, reunited in old age. Like Andy when Tommy calls him "el nuevo Osho" (cultish religious figure from India in 1960's -1980's) when greeting him at George's birthday party, sorta obscure reference makes me think higher of teen's knowledge and perhaps intelligence. Another joke for perceptive: Credits at end say PALF was made by "11:11 Films", a name that's humorous nod to numerological superstition that if you make a wish when seeing that number on digital clock, it will come true.
Iconic CAPITAL RECORDS building appears in location "establishing shots" for Hollywood; unusual tower is circular like a stack of records, including "spindle" (if you never used a record player, look it up) . Just coincidence, but will use as segue to query by New Age believer Emiliano on whether Andy has has "cycle to close" or some kind of conflict with his father. Emiliano's home street address is number 15. THE BIG RED BOOK OF SPANISH IDIOMS says "quince" can mean "someone who is "streets ahead of" everyone else--suggesting Emiliano may not be as naive or out of touch with reality as he first appears. By now do you have inkling that Emiliano's templo has something to do with "church" that inherited all material possessions of Robert's father?
Montage of Los Angeles tourist attractions includes Grauman's Chinese Theatre--location of famous stars' hand and footprints, where George shows Carmen his star on Hollywood Blvd "Walk of Fame". Again, it's hard for me to hear song lyrics even tho in English. I'm guessing: "I'll make the promises if you make the plans. Unpack the car, I'll take the keys. I'll spend all night in your arms together (on the phone?) I know I'll be by your side, California Gold, California Gold." (BTW, state flower of California is golden-orange/yellow silky California poppy.)
When George first shows Carmen "their bedroom", she squeals with delight as he tickles her on the bed, both fully clothed. That and following are some ways family program wordlessly suggests what takes place off screen (like old Hollywood movies did to get around censorship, which more mature audience can decipher, but will go over the heads of kids). Carmen tells family on phone George's bed "flota de la rico" (float related to flying metaphor? tho maybe it's supposed to be water bed). Or are "hints" actually more cinematic shell game trickery?
Song above plays in background when George takes Carmen to Santa Monica Pier amusement park, which includes same roller coaster ( Spanish term "Una Montana Ruso" is also future Chapter title) used in mini-novela VIDAS CRUSADAS with Guy & co-star from LA MENTIRA Kate del Castillo. Thrill ride in that story symbolizes how their two lives crossed while planning to make deposit & withdrawal at sperm bank; eventually couple fall in love and decide--cut out the middleman--starting a family "the old fashioned way" is a lot more fun!
Written by Guy's wife in real life, story was possibly inspired by scene in CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER, when impotent Sebastian, trying to make loveless marriage to Lucia work, agrees to go to fertility clinic. He describes off-screen procedure as "the worst medical exam in my life." (Men watching are all going "cringe", many women saying "pobrecito--will a kiss make it better?" In a way like LA MENTIRA scene where vengeful Veronica gives not so gentle--but very entertaining--first aid to injured Demetrio after her knight comes to the rescue in big bad city. Faced with his boyish grin & hopeful eyes, she struggles to stay angry & keep him at arms' length.
"Live broadcast" of PARIENTES A LA FUERZA now includes QR code (I imagine) to link to www.Telemundo.com
to see all episodes (so far) on www.NBC.com App Enjoy!
