The film “Maria Full of Grace” takes place in a small Colombian town, where most people are poor and young people have no opportunities to improve their lives. The film presents a detailed image of the isolated Colombian town, which is located in the middle of a deserted landscape. In the film, Maria, the protagonist, moves in a space that seems to be completely unfit for her independent and spirited nature. While following Maria from one key community space to the other, such as the factory, the church and the open air disco, the viewers may become aware that the small Columbian town inspires feelings of isolation, captivity and desperation. All of these feelings transmitted by the images of the town are symptoms of the lack of opportunities which characterize the lives of young Colombians living here. By choosing to leave her family for a dangerous and illegal job, Maria in fact chooses self-determination and freedom of choice, taking the chance of being imprisoned and even of dying, rather than continuing to live in a lifeless space.
The small Colombian town where the action takes place is very poor and isolated. This is obvious in the images of old, decayed buildings, and rudimentary infrastructure. For example, the scene where Maria is seen going to church, presents a wooden bridge. Behind Maria, old and ruined buildings offer a desolating image of the town (“Maria”). The only opportunity for work is the flower plant, which is located outside the town. The film follows the depressing bus journey to the factory, where the young people are treated harshly by their superior. The fact that they are the only employers in town may determine the people from the factory to abuse their power and to mistreat their workers. Besides work, there are few opportunities for cultural enrichment, social engagement and self-development in the town. The town seems small and surrounded by wild spaces, where nothingness reigns. The scene where Maria climbs on the decayed buildings, or is seen outside town, increases the feelings of isolation and nothingness. This space seems entirely unsatisfying for an intelligent young woman like Maria, who refuses to accept the limitations imposed to her. This small and isolated town seems not to be enough for her, and for this reason she would do anything to change her life.
The isolation of the small town leads to a lack of opportunities for the young people. People in the town have no other work opportunities than the local flower industry (“Maria”). This is clearly showed by Maria’s mother who explains to the protagonist that the town depends on flowers, and there is no other type of decent work available for a young girl. Bromley (explains in this respect that, “the problem of poverty is not just a shortage of income and wealth, but most importantly, a shortage of bona fide income opportunities” (90). Poverty is hereditary in this town, as Maria’s family shows. Maria lives with her grandmother, mother and her sister, who is a single mother. Even though she is only 17, Maria is expected to contribute to the family income. Men seem to be unwilling to assume responsibility for family, and Juan’s marriage proposal seems unexpectedly generous in this context. Young people who refuse to accept a life in poverty turn to drug trafficking. This type of illegal activity is common in small and poor towns, where the need for basic living necessities determines people to turn to illegal street work in order to live better lives. As Bromley (89) shows, poor people may be excused for trying to increase their income through illegal street work, because they are led by desperation, while the rich are led by greed. Consequently, “the “In the film, Maria, Blanca, Franklin, and many other young people turn to illegal drug trafficking as their only opportunity to help their families and increase their life standard.
The problem of small town poverty is present in the entire Latin America. The situation of these young people leads them to desperation. Consequently, in the film desperation is a major theme, and explains the decision taken by Maria and Blanca. In many of these towns, poverty takes a disproportionately high toll on children, who have to find ways to survive by themselves in the heartless towns. Macionis explains that, “like the tip of an iceberg, the presence of the street children suggests problems that run far deeper: poverty that stunts the lives of children who work long hours each day, who work as prostitutes or who fall victim to hunger and disease” (281). The film “Maria Full of Grace” focuses on adolescents who have to find ways to cope by themselves. Once Maria and Blanca reach the United States of America, they become one of the street children that nobody cares about. Seeing New York from the car, Maria may feel small as compared to the immense buildings, and impressive infrastructure, which she sees for the first time. Alone in a big and unknown city, Maria and Blanca often feel helpless and afraid.
Global cities like New York contrast powerfully with small towns from all points of view, but most importantly, the sense of community is destroyed because of the lack of interaction between neighbors and relatives. This lack of interaction is associated with contemporary dwelling spaces, which creates a barrier between people. Thus, “the representation of global cities also offers new global versions of older tropes associates with the cities, such as alienation, now reflected in the representation of tourists, business travelers, and the displacement of migrants within global networks” (Mennel 196). As an immigrant, Maria is alienated in this space. Watching the city through Maria’s eyes, the viewer becomes aware of the loneliness it conveys, and the anonymity it pushes the protagonist into. During her drive through the city, the film almost seems like a documentary, with very realistic images of the streets and industrial areas, which allow viewers to understand how newly arrived immigrants may perceive the city, as cold and inhospitable. Carla’s account of her experiences after she arrived in New York, and of how much she missed her family, show that immigrants feel unhappy in these large cities On the other hand, the Latin community where Carla lives offers more support to Maria. In this global city, small communities can represent a way for immigrants to cope with feelings of alienation and can help them find hope. The clinic where the Latin doctor offers medical assistance to Maria represents an important space from this respect, because this is where Maria realizes for the first time that she is carrying a life she is responsible for. The decision not to return to the mall town is heavily influenced by this realization.
In “Maria Full of Grace”, the filmmaker try to show that, in a small town with no opportunities ,and with high poverty rates, young people can make the wrong choices, and commit illegal acts, despite the fact that they are innocent and moral beings. The film creates understanding for Maria and Blanca by illustrating the conditions in which they live. The decay of the town, and the isolation and desperation that Maria is subject to, create the basis for their future choices. Once in New York, Maria feels lonely and alienated, and yet, she decides to stay in this large city, in order to give her child more opportunities and the chance to a better life, without needing to commit any illegality in order to achieve it.
Works Cited
Bromley, Ray. “Working in the Streets: Survival Strategy, Necessity, or Unavoidable Evil?”. Making a Living in the City.
Macionis, John. Cities and Urban Life. Pearson. 2013. Print.
“Maria Full of Grace”. Dir. Joshua Marston. 2004. Film.
Mennel, Barbara. Cities and Cinema. New York: Routledge. 2008. Print.
