Oscar Qualifying Short Film Review “Marque Dos” A quick, charmingly humorous, but dramatically potent view of holding fast to dual identities and embracing your heritage
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Striving for validation. Let’s be frank….we ALL want to be successful. Whatever we put our efforts into, ideally it is to make it culminate in the best possible results across the board, especially when it comes to what career path we are pursuing. We WANT to excel, to shine, to advance, to be acknowledged. AND…let’s hope that we also wish to better everyone around us to boot. However, what occurs when those whom we initially put our trust in suddenly become a burden instead of a boon? Do we falter under the weight of rejection? Or STAND UP for WHO WE ARE?
Brand ambassador and, perhaps, self-professed “influencer” Amira (Samira Beija) is one determined experimental marketing agent who is currently seeking her absolute dream position…that of tour manager for brand openings and store campaigns. Fully confident in her Afro-Latina heritage, supported by her doting mother Linda (Adargiza De Los Santos), and now on the cusp of the success she’s pushed for, what happens when the ugliness of stereotyping, misconception, and outright discrimination rear their heads against her??
Next, my Mind:
One of the MANY things that I always do, and continue to, admire when it comes to the world of independent cinema is the manner in which the filmmakers within its community can just keep finding ways to take foundational concepts or themes that have been done extensively and STILL manage to bring about, for this critic anyway, inventive approaches to them that can provide both contemplation AND entertainment value. Plus, when this is accomplished via the specific medium of short film, I feel it is even more impressive. So, with this newest 13-minute effort from writer/director Asha Chai-Chang, executive producers Coco Mills and LaTasha Carter, consulting producer Via Bia, and associate producer Kiah Amara that tackles issues of self-identity, ethnic/racial prejudice, and overcoming the obstacles these create within and around us, it’s done with a beautiful combination of dramatic, compelling intent and outright, engaging wit that makes the film a complete winner across the board.
Yet again a further example of what I consistently tend to call “a needed/necessary” film, the narrative sees a vibrant and energetically ambitious Afro-Latina brand manager looking to make her bones and score the career choice of a lifetime who appears to be on that path until the powers that be attempt to shut her down for less than agreeable reasons, hence pushing her to reflect, seek guidance, and rise up for who and what she stands for. The baseline exploration of being not just a minority, but a DUAL minority in a sadly judgmental world speaks volumes in itself here, unflinchingly and with awareness-raising purpose, but ALSO with an atmosphere of comedic relief that really aids in ensuring the message is definitively there, just in a more accessible, relatable, grounded manner, making it STICK with you while enjoying some amusement as well. I think it’s a total tragedy that it IS necessary for films addressing bigotry, cultural/societal indifference, and frankly utter ignorance to be made. BUT, I therefore applaud those filmmakers who DO manifest such efforts, because their voice SHOULD be heard, acknowledged, considered, and acted upon.
Thematically, this film’s forays into how we look to titles as validation for our skills and worth, culture clashes, typecasting, overt racism, trying to stand tall for our heritage in order to honor and represent it in the face of abject misconceptions and prejudices, how we are supposedly “seen”, “heard”, and appreciated but then wholly judged when reality doesn’t match the world’s concept of HOW we should look or sound based ON our origins, striving to believe in ourselves, be PROUD of it, and PROVE what we can achieve when the RIGHT support is present and the haters are silenced, as well as a little comical nod to automated phone systems, are all showcased in only thirteen minutes, which only serves to allow the points being conveyed to hit you point blank as they should. This is another rallying cry to EMBRACE cultural identity, respect it, and allow it to shine forth, especially when have the blessing of this country to be FREE to do so, much less to foster a FAR more unified societal atmosphere as opposed to the all-too-present polarized one that exists. We want to see MUTUAL opportunities to succeed and find happiness, REGARDLESS of the ethnic, racial, color, or creed variances our melting pot this is the United States contains.
The finale of the film is inspired, filled with hope, and just elicits SMILES in a manner that is just as needed as the more serious instances and statements the film delivers. Even after all of this, it really takes WATCHING this film to deeply immerse yourself in the intentionality and comprehension of the declarations it makes, as there are so many elements of it that can be absorbed. Beija is whimsically magical and determinedly calculated here, a picture of exhilaration and drive but tempered with struggle and vulnerability through her role as Amira, a career woman seeking the ultimate place in her job she wishes to attain. Initially hired for being “Spanish-y” enough for a new store opening event she will manage soon turns ugly when the leader who chose her finds out Amira isn’t what they expected…or wanted, setting Amira on a path of introspection, doubts, and building desire to prove them wrong while being encouraged by a doting mother to stand tall for who she truly is, and hence FIND the success and endorsement she wishes for.
Beija has SUCH a captivating personality that is brought to bear throughout her performance that undeniably pulls you into Amira’s circumstances with ease and deliberateness, eliciting the kind of empathy with her that SHOULD occur while experiencing the lightheartedness that really wins out as the narrative progresses, leaving you satisfied and roused by the film’s intent and Beija’s wonderful acting chops and comedic timing. De Los Santos also makes her presence known with an equally fun and humorously, playfully sassy demeanor via her role as Amira’s mother, Linda. Not remotely allowing her hard-working daughter to let the specters of ignorance and discrimination take over, Linda becomes a very consistent voice of sympathy but also staunch challenge and firm support for Amira as she navigates her troubles, reminding her to BE unabashedly grateful for her heritage and who she is. It’s a perfect portrait OF a parent’s unconditional love for their child, and De Los Santos so adeptly draws you into her own character with a magnificently blended dynamic of hilarity and authenticity.
Jeneta St. Clair stirs the pot in a totally different and, still (mostly) mirthfully mind you, stand-out way through her turn as Mrs. Brewer, the marketing manager who hires Amira for their store opening strictly over the phone, and then more than alters her opinions when actually meeting Amira and discovering she isn’t exactly Selena Gomez or J-Lo, a painfully stereotypical notion of what Latinx people are and how they appear, which actually serves to drive the film’s messaging quite astutely. It creates that character you love to hate and wish to see somehow “get theirs”, and St. Clair delivers this in spades via her memorable performance. Primary supporting roles arrive first from Allie Moreno, Isaac Gonzalez Rossi, and Adalberto Angulo as Cristina, Juan Carlos, and Joe the only three store representatives that show up for Amira’s opening event and who certainly try their best to make the event something exciting…even though they really most likely want to be anywhere else BUT there. All three actors provide excellent wit to their parts to play, definitely making you laugh at their antics and attitudes.
Roxy Rivera appears as Marta, the new Head of Marketing at the company who may just be the advocate Amira has been longing for at her job. Additional turns are made by Veah Melara, Teddy Rodriguez, Anahí de Cárdenas, DJ Keybo, Selina Gallegos, Aswan Harris, and Gabriela Banuelos. So, in total, “Marque Dos” is another excellently written and executed example of conscious-pricking, thoroughly relevant, unequivocally requisite, comically-driven but significantly vital journey into the very soul of who we are as individuals AND as a nation, outlining the necessity of change in mindset for ourselves and the greater whole to accept exactly WHO we are, be liberated to stand for it, and more importantly be respected and supported for it that we might see the reunion of humanity it might all reflect when achieved. Because without a genuine balm and deeper willingness to understand minorities and their own struggles being applied to our often needlessly skewed perspectives, how can we ever hope to see the changes that are required? This film demonstrates it. Let’s follow the example, because they deserve it. And so do we ALL.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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