Película: Maria Full of Grace

I recently sat down and watched Maria Full of Grace. The movie was made in 2004 and was directed and written by Josh Marston. The movie is about a woman from Columbia, Maria Alvarez, who is forced to work in a sweat shop to support her family. Maria is faced with some very difficult situations, which forces her to quit her job. She looks for a new job when she is offered a position to transfer drugs. This will make her a lot of money, but is very dangerous. The job requires her to swallow a capsule full of drugs and she is ordered to transfer them to New York City. Maria Full of Grace is a heartbreaking story. The amount of pain and suffering Maria has to go through is awful. It is a very good and interesting film though. I watched this movie at home, but I think the SIUE Foreign Language Lab was offering it to watch for lab minutes! I recommend that everyone watches this movie!

-Ashley Kurtz

Película: "Frida"

"Frida" is a movie released in 2002 about the life of painter Frida Kahlo (played by Salma Hayek.) The movie was made from the book Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera. The movie begins in Mexico City during 1922. Frida is living her life as a normal 18 year old girl. An accident on a trolley leaves Frida being unable to walk. Unable to walk for a period of time, she turns to painting to help relieve the pain and anger.

After gaining her strength back to walk, she goes and talks to Diego Rivera who is painting at her school. She asks him to criticize her work. Diego tells Frida she has potential and she continues on to paint with him. Frida stays around Diego because he is a good mentor for her and after a short while they end up becoming romantically involved. Finally, opportunity strikes! Frida and Diego go to the United States to paint a mural in New York City. Diego and Frida run into some troubles along the way, which sends them back to Mexico. Frida and Diego have a very rocky relationship because of many things, especially when Diego is unfaithful. I don't want to give to much away! The story is so enticing!

The movie is centered around the relationship of Frida and Diego. Two painters, both entirely different, but brought together by their passion of painting. Frida experiences a lot of trouble in her life but it only makes her a stronger person and a more passionate painter. Overall, the movie was really great. I was kind of depressed watching it but Frida Kahlo is an excellent painter and her story is inspiring. I recommend everyone watch Frida.

-Ashley Kurtz

(For more literature about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, go to page 68 in Capitulo 1 in our Spanish 101 textbook Dos Mundos.)

Fui a una fiesta de cumpleaños!

On September 5th, 2010, I attended a little boy's birthday party. Currently, I am dating a MEXICAN :) man and his entire family speaks no english at all. I have been with the same person for 3 years and every time there is a party for a special occasion, many parties like this occur. It is a great listening experience for me and I think i'm starting to actually pick some of it up! :)

The birthday boy is on the left, and my boyfriend's brother is on the right :)

Pinata time! :D

My family! :) I'm behind my sister on the left!

In my boyfriend's family, at every birthday party, it is tradition for the birthday boy/girl to get their face put in the cake! The kids really like when they do this!

I think Jesse enjoyed it too! :)

And here's Jesse and his Mom!

Overall, the birthday was a great time! All the kids had fun and Jesse made out like a bandit with gifts! :)

Feliz cumpleaños Jesse!

Ashley Kurtz

SPAN 101-009