When Marianna’s husband abandons the family and leaves them in a new city, they are forced to start completely over. The family has only been in America for two weeks and they know no one and have absolutely no connections to help them. If they were still in Colombia or somewhere close to it, they would at least be able to rely on family and friends to get through these hard times. However when the family being left for themselves in America, Marianna has to try anything to find money or work. She does not even speak the language, so she often has to rely on her son’s knowledge of English to help communicate with others. For this to happen the family’s first summer in America, it at first gives Marianna a negative view on the country, because she is from the outside and she cannot find anyone to help her. However, as the film goes on I feel that for the family’s first summer in America it begins to show Marianna that things will possibly work out for her here, and it is possible for her to do it. I don’t feel that this is a typical problem for Americans in similar situations. Single mother in America may face some of the same problems that Marianna’s family does, but there are ways that these mothers are able to get help. More resources are available to single American mothers that are living in poverty, like welfare, mother centers, and soup kitchens that would be able to help support the families. However, Marianna’s family either is not eligible for these benefits, or has no idea that they exist, because she is not from this country. In my opinion, the struggles that Marianna goes through being left by her husband with two small children, in a new country is a much harder and bigger struggle than American single mothers.
Jamie Thomas
Jame- I agree. Mariana and her kids were stranded in an unfamiliar environment and had to pull together to survive. I thought it was sad that her kids ha to dig through trash cans so they could get the money from them. I also thought it was so sad when they slept in that park. Despite all of that, they kept unusually good attitudes. They laughed, played games, and I think had a stronger bond because they only had each other. They all worked hard trying to find work so they could make money. I think it is definately harder for a woman from a foreign country than it is for an American woman who is familiar with the available resources here in the US
ReplyDeleteI want to add that during the whole abortion scene I feel that Marianna had to do what she needed I am not going to pass judgment on anyone in that situation because I have never been there, but I want to add that I feel in America a mother wouldn't do it and would somehow figure it out and make it work. Jamie like you said there are more resources available to single mothers here and I don't feel a mother would turn to an abortion first thing.
ReplyDeleteMiranda Miller
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteGreat comments and discussion here.
I was not able to find anything for Volver.
Thank you
Angel