Words: 716
This film is intended to be a comedy/drama and satirically presents serious issues such as border control, illegal labor, occupational stereotypes and the inability of people, mostly white, to appreciate the Mexicans/Hispanics that they employ without having a clue about their respective cultures. There is a clear distinction even between Hispanics who are lighter to those who are darker skinned. The lighter Hispanics are seen to have better jobs in this movie while the darker skinned are more commonly found in agricultural or domestic occupations. We follow overall people and see how this event has disturbed their lives.
We see the chaos that ensues as the “invisible” population actually becomes invisible leaving mostly “whites” to acknowledge the value of the hard work they perform daily. Some learn to appreciate while others do not. A јsit in this film occurs when the lead actress, who is assumed to be Mexican, didn’t vanish. As the plot unravels, we find that she is adopted and not of Hispanic descent but eventually vanishes at the moment she realizes in her heart that she is as she was raised to be, a Mexican. As the movie ends and all return, here seems to be some improvement but not enough. Wink the director took a huge risk making this movie. On the surface this movie seems sophomoric, even bordering on the absurd but to anyone really paying attention it somehow, ungracefully, became a drama of sorts. The exaggerated, one dimensional character portrayals weren’t devised by accident. These representations seem to cut through the feigned political correctness to get to the real opinions and stereotypes that most people have towards Mexicans and Hispanics. One issue had not considered before viewing this film was that there exists a hierarchy within these groups Hispanics/Mexicans).
Lighter Hispanics seem to have better employment opportunities and are even considered more attractive. They seem to have adopted similar attitudes as ‘ Whites”. They are portrayed as media personalities in this movie while the others are farm-workers, nannies or housecleans. They distance themselves from the fact that they are of the same ancestry instead of using their stature to expose and elevate the condition of the lives of their own people. There is another dimension to this hierarchy. Mexican-Americans and Hispanic-Americans seem to have an antipathy towards those not born here or are here illegally.
I don’t understand this. As I considered the symbolism of the pink fog that surrounded and bordered the state of California, it occurred to me that it served the same purpose as the barrios (neighborhoods). It isolated and contained all those who remained after the Mexicans disappeared just as the barrios isolate and contain those who aren’t really seen. It wasn’t a solid barrier but whatever was on the other side was scary and hidden. Whatever was on the other side was clouded by indifference. It would have been simple to just walk through and maybe the fear and indifference would cease.
Personal identity and self-image may have been my favorite points in this movie. When the news reporter, Lila Rodriguez, was the only Mexican not to disappear, I was confused. At first I thought, along with many people in the film, that she Was going to be the saving grace for an entire race of people. When learned that she was not of Mexican descent, I knew the direction before it was revealed in the movie. We are who we believe we are in our hearts. When she disappeared, wasn’t surprised. In that instant, the possibility of becoming a collective people that could blur the lines of operation was born.
The humor in this film was purposely simple. Its premise was totally obvious. It was an uncomplicated movie about very complex issues in this country. It is undeniable that Mexicans and Hispanics are one of the hardest working forces driving the American economy. It is also undeniable that they are the least respected, revered or compensated for their contributions. The lack of appreciation towards a huge segment of the population that watches our kids, cooks our food, works in sometimes brutal conditions for long hours and for inadequate pay, is appalling and disgraceful.