Mi Vida Loca or My Crazy Life a low budget independent film that was released in 1993. Ii was during in an era when gang brutality made news worthy stories and gang violence was at its peak. Many gang related killings are credited to this period. As gang tragedies intensify, they would become ordinary in these types of communities. Violence, drug abuse, and betrayal becomes a daily routine in communities such as Echo Park.In this film, the girls must battle between the odds that are not in their favor. This film is about survival in there twisted utopia.Their whole revolved around the neighborhood and the gang. This is a place where everything is at their convenience and there is no reason to leave since everything is there. It is a coming to age drama that revolves around the lives of two naive teenage female gang members Angel Aviles as Sad Girl and Seidy Lopez as Mousie. Jacob Vargas also co stars as Bullet the casanova of the ghetto.
This film tells a story of two girls who were best friends andwho grew up in Echo Park, a small section of City of Los Angeles. The bond between the two girls is special and in a split second there lives are changed for ever. This film depicts the girls as vulnerable and lack the self respect as they both have a child from the same guy. They both have a child from Bullet. What was once a strong and unbreakable bond is now over. Sad Girl quotes “what comes around goes around that’s life in the Echo.
Dysfunctional families, outside influence and lack of common sense contribute to the girls bad choices. In the beginning of the movie, Mousie was hiding from her mom. As a little she was always getting into trouble. Mom is upset and call her daughter a bitch. Mousie at this time is about six years old. Unlike Real women Have Curves there is no strong family dynamics and family support that can actually be beneficial to a bright future. Sad to say, even the smart girl , Blue Eyes is gullible and is searching for romance through a prison pen pal. These girls are young but have had a rough life. Complacency and violence is a way of life for the female gang members. They do not take control of their lives because the gang life is the only priority. Motherhood at a young age is what is more important. As we see America Ferrera, she takes control of her sexuality and future by living the past to start something new.
As tension escalated between the two girls and a fight was inevitable, however, they actually never fought. Verbal confrontation and insults were a way these girls handled the situation. They would call each other fat to wetback, since Sad Girl was from Mexico, and because they were best friends at one time, they both new so much about each other. This is the away the two conveyed their animosity towards each other. They girls are both are being manipulated by Bullet. He is still sleeping with both of them and perpetuates the situation by doing so. They both are aware but feel that who ever he chooses, will get the ultimate prize. Bullet was a semi responsible father. He had a job but knew working at a grocery store is not going to be sufficient. He has to find a source of income that is easy and lucrative. He becomes a drug dealer just to support his children and his family. Bullet was a casanova and that led him to his demise. He was gunned down and murdered by a white women. This is nothing new when you choose a lifestyle that will ultimately led you to a prison sentence or death. Nothing productive can come from being in gang. This movie was Salma Hayek first film. It was the beginning of carrier for Jason Lee now both are famous thanks to a small independent film about life in the echo.