Real Women Have Curves

A blatant crowd pleaser, Real Women Have Curves follows Ana (America Ferrera) a first generation Mexican American who spends the summer anxiously awaiting news of her proposed scholarship to Columbia University, while working in her sister's dress making factory. A wilful but intelligent young woman, Ana often finds herself at odds with her equally tough mother Carmen (Lupe Ontiveros) whose upbringing doesn't reflect the same attitudes that are dominant in her daughter, chief amongst them, opinions about their heritage and the female body size.

A spiky, conversation-heavy screenplay and the natural striking performances of its two leading ladies lend Real Women Have Curves a sparking efficiency often lacking in the coming of age drama genre. The material may follow a well worn path but the vibrancy and energy injected by first timer director Cardosa lends it an extra dimension without ever overshadowing her actors. Most refreshingly, though, Real Women Have Curves features two extremely strong female characters who articulately deconstruct the perception of women in society, without ever condescending or patronising the audience. Hollywood this ain't.