Sense and Sensibilidad to start filming in January
Alert Janeite Cinthia sent us a link to an interview with Fina Torres, the director of Sense and Sensibilidad, a modern-set film adaptation of S&S set in the chicano community of Los Angeles. Ms. Torres said the film might start filming by January 2009. The article is in Spanish, but Cinthia sent us a translation.
Title: “Sense and Sensibility chicana”
Subtitle: “This is a free adaptation of the novel to contemporary chicano L.A. world.”
Abstract: “The Mexican Adriana Barraza heads the cast of the new film that the Venezuelan Fina Torres (Oriana, Women on Top) will next shoot. Thus she [Torres] informed through e-mail from USA where she is setting up details to start shooting a version of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
Though there will be a Venezuelan actor, the filmaker did not reveal his name.”
Interview:
“- When will you start shooting?
- Aproximately by January, 2009. Though dates are always tentative.
- When it will take place?
- In México and L.A.
- Who are part of the cast?
- Adriana Barraza, a Venezuelan actor, two Mexicans and the rest among Americans and chicanos.
- Who wrote the adapted script?
- I did, with Luis Alfaro, an excellent chicano playwright. It was an interesting process.
- What differences it wil have with the Hollywood version (Ang Lee, 1995)?
Several. It is a free adaptation of the novel to contemporary chicano LA world. The characters are chicanos, Mexicans, Latinos and an American couple.
- Regarding Hollywood, this will be your second production there, what does it means for you this new opportunity?
- Every film is a new opportunity, wherever it takes place. I love shooting in different countries. This will be a chance to do so in Mexico and East L.A., which is like a bit of Mexico in USA.
- What do you intend to do and improve in this production in relation to Women on Top (2000)?
They are different productions. This is an independent film, there is no big studio behind it. Women on Top was a commission where served as director to a production studio with a screenwript chosen by them. It was a very interesting experience, but I do not consider it a personal work. This [S&S L.A.] is cinema d’autor, but of course with the limitations of the American industry, where producers have a lot of control.”
Then she only answers briefly about the release of her latest film (Te en La Habana) and opinions of cinema in Venezuela.
Cinthia also speculates that the American couple might be John and Fanny Dashwood.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Excuse my ignorance, I distantly remember somebody once telling me ‘chicano’ to be a derogatory term never to be used in front of Mexicans or Latinos. Has that changed? Or was I simply misinformed?
I’m curious.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:16 am
It depends on where you are, who you are, how you use the word, and the tone you use. (Cinthia, would you agree?) Historically, the word has been used both in a positive and a negative sense. In fact, it seems to have been the preferred term in the 1970’s in some areas of the USA.
This is true of words like “Gringo”. It can be a very offensive word when used along the border. Here, in Los Cabos, it is simply used to identify a person from the USA. (Mexicans also consider themselves “Americans”, so “Americanos” is not used, although the term “Norte-Americanos” is common and includes Canadians.)
My personal feeling is that it is better to avoid using these potentially offensive terms.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Well…to clarify my own usage, I understood that “chicano” referred specifically to Mexican culture and “latino” to the wider area of Latin America. Since this film seems to be specifically concentrating on the culture of Mexicans living in Los Angeles, I thought it more correct in this context.
However, if I misapprehended or if it is an offensive term I certainly will change the post! Any word can be offensive when used offensively, though.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
After what Baja Janeite said (¡Gracias por la explicación, maja!) and since it is in the original article I wouldn’t bother to change the wording.
I assume Adriana Barraza will be Mrs. Dashwood. The project sounds interesting, let’s hope the hollywood producers Fina Torres alludes to in the interview won’t take over control of the production. Otherwise we’ll probably end up with Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek in the roles of Elinor and Marianne. Just kidding.
Totally unrelated useless trivia of the day: His grumpyness Colin Firth celebrates his 48th birthday today. Here’s to you, mate!
September 10th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Baja Janeite Says:
From what I understand, the word “Chicano” historically referred to a Californian born of Mexican parents (especially indigenous Mexican parents). I think the term is still used mainly in California. (”Tejanos”, on the other hand, are Texas born children of Mexicans.)
The Odd Lot Entertainment website says that Mary and Nora (the protagonists of Sense and Sensibilidad) are from San Marina, CA, and are forced move to the Boyle Heights neighborhood of LA.
http://www.oddlotentertainment.com/Int/Catalog/FilmLibrary.asp?ProjectID=%7BDEA148A5-3930-4BA3-953F-15285D2D5A66%7D
So, evidently they are Californians of Mexican descent or “Chicanas” -as the newspaper interview mentions in the title and subtitle.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Sorry to this belated reply, it has been a busy week.
I cannot really claim extensive knowledge on the use of “chicano” I just left it like that because Ms. Torres had used it and it implied the difference stated by Mags. Furthermore, I do not feel Ms. Torres used it offensively. I believe that the term in origins refers more to those of Mexican roots born in Chicago, as they were more etnically ‘outsiders’ to their place of birth and residence, than those born and living in the Southern border states (CA, TX, etc.) but I am not so sure. Perhaps some years ago, the term was considered politically incorrect, but now it might have evolved, I hope Mr. Alfaro, if he reappears again over here, could clarify for us the term.
As for Ms. Barraza taking the equivalent of Mrs. Dashwood, I could not be that sure, in previous news the name of Patricia Bernal has also been mentioned as part of the cast in addition to Ms. Barraza, and I think Mrs. Bernal as the most likely Mrs. Dashwood, besides that could complete the 3 number that Ms. Torres mentions in the interview, that is Ms. Barraza and 2 more Mexican actors. My guess at the moment is that Ms. Barraza would be the great-aunt Aurelia that the summary at the production company site mentions.