Follow the Rainbow

Announced in February 2021, two American movies re-imagining WIZARD OF OZ are in production, but I think I'll still prefer lesser-known TV series (not promoted as being inspired by OZ) for being more innovative, entertaining and insightful.

After repeat viewings of NBC's 100 episode PARIENTES A LA FUERZA (Family By Force), streaming On Demand by Spectrum, Youtube, Telemundo, I realized 2021 story about Hollywood screenwriter--born in Mexico, strayed from his cultural roots & family values--creatively alludes in many ways to 1939 version of WIZARD OF OZ.  Eyes opened, now seems obvious to me. 

Shakespeare himself is well-known for finding ideas for his own plays in history and other stories, creatively transforming them like powerful sorceror Prospero of his final play THE TEMPEST with famous Ariel's song "a sea change, into something rich and strange".

At very least,  PARIENTES A LA FUERZA could be something "new" to watch during production break caused by Writers' and Actors' Guild strikes--and might even create more appreciation of their craft. Thanks for reading!  (P.S.  See very important notes at end of this post)

Protagonist Carmen is called Torbellino/whirlwind, aka "tornado", "cyclone"?  Other air references include child Lupita playing with wind in church tower, song "la brisa brings me back to place that was my home", and frequent stress on breathing in--literal meaning of word "inspiration".  

Brightly colored Mexico & drab grayscale smog city L.A. are like famous contrast between technicolor Land of Oz & dry, dusty Kansas.  George tells Carmen that his landscape turns gray without her.  

Notice iridescent soap bubbles--the way Glinda the Good arrives in Munchkinland--floating in air of shopping plaza George walks thru on way to his mother's funeral.  And are tiny old ladies who give him gift at funeral Munchkins?    

Might Tontota (silly)--affectionate nickname given to Carmen by her shrewd cousin, Roja/Ruby red ("alias Yuli") who diagnosed her as having "kicked dog syndrome" i.e. expecting men in her life to break her heart--have anything to do with Dorothy's little dog Toto?    

At least 3 male characters in PALF are on quests to overcome fear (courage), gain understanding of others (brains), and learn to love unselfishly (heart)  Juancho fears not seeming 100% macho male; he eventually embraces opposite as new identity.  All find new love, family & HOME by end of story.  Watch for suit of armor in mansion of "rusted solid Tinman" paralyzed Robert "Robocop" who will eventually become humane.

Orbit Studios Executive Kurt wears eyeglass frames that change color--like "horse of a different color" in Emerald City of Oz)  In original OZ book, everything in Emerald City looks that color because all inhabitants and visitors must wear glasses with green lenses--allegedly to protect their eyes from being dazzled from city's spendor.  Film is after all a visual medium.       

Overall theme of PALF is APPEARANCE VERSUS AUTHENTICITY.  Even viewers who can't catch all Spanish dialogue may still notice lots of eye imagery, mirrors, maps, wheels, ROADS, TRAVEL, ups & downs--stairs, ladders, actual & emotional roller coaster ride of laugh-out-loud humor, cliff-hanger suspense and swoony romantic dialogue. 

Title of Episode 24 is in fact Montana Rusa, Spanish term for roller coaster; Russian film maker shows up later for Cold War-like tension as in a mid-century movie.  Locked glass room may be allusion to 2001 scene when HAL reads lips of astronauts trying to evade computer turned foe.  

Many references to "eyes" in dialogue:  Ep 18, George tells Carmen "Thru your eyes I learned to see the beauty in simple things", and visuals (wide-eyed emoji post-it note in kitchen of Cruz kitchen mimics George's expression, sunglasses signal blindness; grafitti in East LA; stylized eye pendant worn by Juancho, who tells Leti they are alike in getting what they want: "donde pone el ojo, pone la bala" (hit what you aim at); on studio walls are "blind" photos with eyes hidden, poster of fake 1950's Sci Fi movie showing either giant eye or miniature woman). 

      

PALF also presents twist on "Survivor" reality shows where only one winner takes all.  When writer plans to marry poor but honorable Mexican singer, his immoral materialistic ex-wife seeking to return says there's room for only one family in her former HOME, not realizing statement will come true by two families being united by intermarriage between six couples. 

Orbit Studio's blonde mega-star Clio Bonet (named after highly regarded French New Wave film by a woman writer & director, CLEO FROM 5 to 7?) covets leading role in writer's new movie, exploits and tries to deport Mexican singer for whom he wrote the part, one example of how a county's older residents often fear newly arrived immigrants "taking their jobs".  Dorothy as immigrant? 

Another classic I eventually saw PALF--and possibly WIZARD OF OZ--intentionally refer to:  Some say DON QUIXOTE influenced all literature that followed.  (See online September 2008 article by Ilan Stavans "One master, many Cervantes".  Similarities in PALF:  Dichos y refranes (proverbs & sayings) are often quoted by Sancho Panza & Jurados.  Fantasy & reality become mixed.  Super hero chivalry is derided--yet wins.  

Is reason why love interest of screenwriter--he's long been buried in study/library alone creating fantasy stories--repeatedly dumps sugar in her coffee, to link her with middle-aged Don Quixote's Lady Love, "sweet" Dulcinea? (Ep. 12 "Don" scene)    

Lively, insightful Modern Scholar series title THE NOVEL THAT INVENTED MODERNITY:  DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA by Ilan Stavans is 8 short lectures under 5 hours long total, available on CD or audio e-book from library.  Professor Stavans also edited book of scholarly essays in English titled TELENOVELAS--his father was a telenovela actor (It's a small world after all). 

On page 62 of this 2010 book , part of "The Ilan Stavans Library of Latino Civilization", author Ibsen Martinez confirms my own speculation that the genre developed from tradition of novels by the like of Victor Hugo, Balzac and Charles Dickens being read aloud in installments to entertain male workers doing tedious repetitive work in Cuban cigar factories before the age of radio.

Telenovelas are often confused with very different USA-made soap operas by people who have done little research. Somewhat scholarly book A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL by Pamela Regis was written to show that "most popular, but least respected" genre of romance novels has long suffered from similar misunderstandings.  On Demand access to TV classics may rectify.

 

Remember that lyrics to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" include "someday I'll wish upon a star"?  Might have inspired imagery detailed below.  Another series with lovely songs is based on book CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER. (see also GoodReads review)

Beside Road Trip references (more below pointed out in lyrics of musical TV show's lovely songs) there's extended metaphor of Orbit Studios' newest movie star being Sun that blue Planet Earth circles (writer's favorite color is blue, his painted portrait shows green plants; his two-faced ex-wife may be moon that long hid her dark side). 

A planet is "bi-polar", like writer's ex-wife calls him in Ep. 4.  Lack of Carmen's sunshine is reason he says in Ep. 18 "cuando no estoy contigo, mi pasaje se vuelve gris" (when I'm not with you, my world turns gray).  In Carrmen's love song to George Para Siempre (Forever), she promises to be "warmth that covers you".  Andy says Carmen is so beautiful it hurts to look at her (like looking directly at the sun).  Yuli, who Carmen says is her sombra/shadow, best friend, wears sunflower blouse. 

More astronomy:  twins/Gemini, Virgin, Scorpio (el alacran ese), possibly Chinese zodiac animals---perhaps unaware that also inspired characters in Korean drama Dae Jo Yeoung  (See book on Korean history Everlasting Flower ancient carving of human soldier with head of boar.)  Lyrics to one of a number of songs in English heard on PALF:  "You're only human, but made of stars".

Wheel/travel imagery is reflected in Spanish phrases of entertainment world "rueda de prensa" (press conference), "gira" (tour, like a singer or band) "girar" means to revolve like a weathercock in the wind, turn like sunflower/girasol to face sun, or how planets, moons and stars girate in outerspace.   

Definite references to Mexican film AMORES PERROS:  as well as subject matter, nickname of thugs' leader is El Perrote (Big Dog); also Leticia/Perricia equivalent to double-act English word for female dog; she wears "hound's tooth check" pattern dress, is like "perro con las dos tortas" or Aesop's fable about greedy "Dog & the Reflection". 

Among other movie genres: Around Ep. 12, listen for War Movie tropes like "mined road", "going to war":  when dangerous mission--delivering pizza--goes wrong; "We gotta leave a soldier behind!"  And I love joke when Tania jumps in horror when suspected murderer suddenly appears as she reads secret diary.  "You seem nervous, sweating more than usual".  "Oh, you know--menopause".    

Twist on Brazilian film classic BLACK ORPHEUS inspired another character's storyline in this unusual telenovela.  I wonder how many in audience caught (Ep. 4) gender-switched reference to iconic poster for another famous film, DONA FLOR & HER TWO HUSBANDS? 

 PALF illustrates how entertainment permeates our thoughts, world views & beliefs by "quoting" many famous films visually, thematically or by translation of movie title or catch phrase (Que la fuerza vaya contigo). 

To be frank, sub-title translations on Youtube for PALF aren't the best, especially compared to animated demonstration of "The Art of Translation" in NEW YORK TIMES July 7, 2023 by Sophie Hughes.  In Ep. 4, for example, Leti says of her ex-husband suddenly dashing off,  "Ay, ese tipo es bipolar!"(a hint at 2 things to come in story), becomes bland "he's so annoying".  Colorful expressions refering to pigs and dogs are similarly erased, so "Amores perros" imagery vanishes.)

Famous Mexican filmmaker Guellermo del Toro wrote English sub-titles for his fantasy film PAN'S LABYRINTH after those on another film were what he called "for the thinking impaired--really bad".  Reddit comments on this suggest many reasons for poor translations--good motive to learn Spanish yourself! 

Spanish verbal idioms take physical form in PALF, including pelo/hair, poner los cuernos/horns on sculptures when spouse & others cheat on their partners.  One character fears not seeming 100% traditional macho male, but eventually embraces new identity.  Rainbow Gay pride flag is in window of beauty salon, site of SOME LIKE IT HOT reversal. 

Another timely topic in PALF relates to demographic trend in ESQUIRE May 16, 2023 online article by Michael Clinton, "The Huge, Fast-Growing Audience Hollywood is Just Ignoring"--people over 50 hold 70% of private wealth in USA and by 2030 in developed countries, there will be more people over 50 than under 18. 

I prefer to re-watch classic movies like WIZARD OF OZ than modern stuff aimed at young adults.

   

Manipulative manager Tania (who's secretly been in love with writer for over 20 years) may be named after Titania, largest moon of Uranus (all 27 moons named after characters created by Shakespeare or Alexander Pope). 

Other character names evoke for me famous actors: WESLEY (Snipes?) is best friend of GEORGE (Clooney?--both Georges are fathers of fraternal twins), son TOMAS CRUZ/Tom Cruise; CAMERON (actress Diaz--or director James Cameron?); GINA (Davis?); another Afro-Colombian character is KEVIN (Costner, Kline, Bacon, Spacey).  Yuli (called chuli JULIE) may refer to a famous actress--but reason I think so is major spoiler.  Aurelio uses as alias name GAEL (Mexican actor/producer Gael Garcia Bernal), late in story is make-up artist MARLENE (Dietrich?) whose t-shirts evoke CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

Below are some examples of "Road Trip" imagery--pista, calle, sendero--used in PALF, maybe linked to WIZARD OF OZ:

(On set of PARA BIEN O PARA MAL, Carmen sings:  "Yo tengo un amor desesperado, que sabe lo que cuesta el engano.  Yo tengo un corazon muy despistado, que se cuece al primer hervor.  Yo tengo una maleta de recuerdos, una biblioteca de deseos, y una guitarra llena de acordes de dolor.  Mira, mira, como me tiene tu partida.  Mira, mira, como me tiene tu traicion.  En tus manos va mi vida, en mi corazon la herida.  Yo tengo un desesperado amor.  Mira, mira... Mira, mira."  DIRECTOR:  Corte.  (Aplausos)  

(Episode 5)  CARMEN (sings, holding George's hands):  "Adoro...  la calle en que nos vimos (twirls herself under their joined hands)  la noche cuando nos conocimos, (all her family start singing along) y me muero por tenerte junto a mi, cerca, muy cerca de mi, no separarme de ti, y es que eres mi existencia y mi sentir (Andy watches from shadows inside, Leti from upper room) eres mi luna, eres mi sol, eres mi noche de amor.  Yo te adoro, vida mia".   

(Episode 9)  KURT:  Carmen Jurado, la contrate, porque realmente pienso que es un diamante en bruto.  RICK:  Show me (Muestrame).  KURT:  Happily (Con gusto).  Video/GRABACION (Carmen sings with eyes shut, a capella):  "Toda una vida yo te esperaria.  Todo el amor a ti te guardaria.  (Rick nods at Kurt, smiles)  Quiero cuidar el sendero que llega hasta mi.  No me cansaria de estar en tu esquina, de ser tu guarida y remanso de paz.  Ser tu mejor guia, calor que te abriga, para siempre. Tuya para siempre".

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As introductory course on some beloved classic telenovelas that have been very influential, read the 6  blog posts for November 2023, plus the 2 other posts in December 2023 (click "Archive" on left of screen). 

Planning to read novels for young readers by J.C. Cervantes after discovery of more apparent references/influences from some favorite telenovelas like those in ENCHANTED HACIENDA. 

Early novel TORTILLA SUN published under name of Jennifer Cervantes has river scene with expectant father that reminds me of one in LA MENTIRA.  J.C. Cervantes YA novel FRACTURED PATH includes "seeing heart" design like one seen in mural in PARIENTES A LA FUERZA.

Undecided whether to post comments on GoodReads for either CORAZON SALVAJE or LA MENTIRA to guide readers over to this blog (most likely would only be seen by Spanish speakers already familiar with the telenovela classics) or just add some notes to November blog post on topic...  

Might also post GoodReads review on CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling.  If so, "search review text" for keyword "paradise" to find. 

Sometimes other thoughts come to mind later of more things to add to previous blog posts, so maybe check back to see if any additions have been made to those of 2023 to be sure those who wish to save their own copies for future reference may have the most complete version.      

2023 Blog posts had previously appeared as borrower reviews on LAPL which have since vanished from that website, possibly because such have limited life span.  Don't know how long this blog might be available if for some reason no further posts are made. 

Recently learned that four members of a family that had lived nearby--including 24 year old very fit, active & healthy looking young man--died of COVID.  Broke my heart.  Please get vaccinated.

As reported in online coverage, telenovela PARIENTES A LA FUERZA was made during early days of pandemic before a vaccine was available, but many precautions were taken during production, including frequent (daily?) testing and masking, social distancing. 

Leading man and his wife & children got vaccine as soon as it was available.  PLEASE follow that admirable example.  Thank you & hasta luego!