Paradise: A Mexican romantic comedy

(Paraíso)
Mariana Chenillo | Comedy, Fiction, Romance

2014 | 105 minutes | Mexico

Everything is going fine for childhood sweethearts Carmen and Alfredo in their own tranquil suburban paradise, until Alfredo’s job promotion forces them to move to bustling Mexico City.

Synopsis

Childhood sweethearts Carmen and Alfredo live a life of quiet bliss in Satélite, a sleepy suburb outside of Mexico City. When Alfredo is offered a promotion, the lovebirds make the move into the bustling metropolis. It’s a rude awakening for Carmen, who until now has not really worried about the fact that she and Alfredo are both overweight. After overhearing gossip about their bodies at a company party, she decides that it is time to swap donuts for salads, and urges Alfredo to join her in a weight-loss program. But when only one of them actually starts to slim down, a rift emerges in their relationship.

Portrayed with undeniable charm by newcomer Daniela Rincon and well-known Andres Alameida, Paradise touches upon issues of body image, self-confidence and happiness with candor and humor.

The film is executive-produced by Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal.

Reviews

“Mexican Filmmaker Mariana Chenillo charts the tricky evolution of enduring love with offbeat grace and charm in her new film, Paraíso. Exploring the deeply-held compulsions that we all have, and which oddly enough, can actually breed affection among those who love us most, she cheerfully sidesteps many of the modern romantic comedy’s most tiresome clichés with a recipe that includes one dash of Almodovar, a sprig of Mike White, and a generous helping of her own quirky romantic style.” – Brad Liberti, SCREEN PICKS

“Paraíso’s arrival marks a revival in Mexican comedy. It is a film that doesn’t treat the audience as dumb or conformist. Moving beyond the issue of obesity, we can all identify with the characters as people trying to follow standards of “happiness” imposed by trends or advertising.” – Blanco Samperio, CULTURA COLECTIVA

Citation
Main credits

Chenillo, Mariana (screenwriter)
Chenillo, Mariana (film director)
Cruz, Pablo (film producer)
Almeida, Andrés (actor)
Rincón, Daniela (actor)
Méndez, Luis Gerardo (actor)
Ferreira, Anabel (actor)

Other credits

Music, Dario González Valderrama; editor, Mariana Chenillo; director of photography, Yaron Orbach.


Citation
Cataloging
Keywords
body-conscious, vanity, beauty standards, self-acceptance, love, relationship, marriage, discrimination, obesity, middle class, Mexico City, Mexico, Latin America, romantic comedy, Mariana Chenillo, Andres Alameida, Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, spanish, spanish language, latin america, latin american cinema, latin american film, ibero america, latin, latinx, latino, latina,,body image, appearance, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, body acceptance, acceptance, body dysmorphic disorder, body dysmorphia, negative body image, distorted body image, confidence, self-esteem, self acceptance, fat acceptance, body acceptance, positive body image, negative body image, weight, fat, overweight, obesity,women, womanhood, gender, girl, girlhood, mother, motherhood, female, cis woman, cis female, trans woman, trans female, women’s rights, women’s issues, lady, ladies, gentlewoman, madame, miss, missus, mrs., dame, damsel, ingenue, lass, maid, maiden, belle, gal, ladyfriend, girlfriend, dear, darling, widow, matron, dowager, gender, gender equality, gender pay gap, women’s liberation, women’s rights,sociology, anthropology, psychology, sociological, sociological perspectives, conflict theory, human conflicts, sociological thinking,conflict perspective, topics in sociology, sociology topics, sociology studies, social studies, people and cultures, human relations, human relationships, cultural studies, culture studies ,culture, identity, identity politics, culture wars, left wing, right wing, intersectionality, identity groups, civilization, literacy, humanism, cancel culture, online culture, cultural revolution, cultural diffusion, culture shock, popular culture, pop culture, material culture, cultural capital, cultural assimilation ,family, kin, fellowship, household, immediate family, extended family, multigenerational family, multigenerational household, kinfolk, family tree, genealogy, nuclear family, modern family, family tree,Paraiso,paradise,Paraíso, Mariana Chenillo, 2013, (Ciudad de México),gael garcia bernal,parioso,the paradise,mexico,Mexico city,parasio,Gabriel Garcia Bernal,gael bernal,garcia bernal,Roosevelt,gael,Camila,paraaiso,edouard baer,Te doy mis ojos,pragda,Weight loss,gael garcia,y tu mama,Spanish language films,paraiso travel,matador,pablo trapero,Paraiso for Sale,moreno,bliss,mexican movies,gael bernal garcia,paradise dante,spanish movies,the lovebirds,mexican,suburb,Pirates of the caribbean,nn,andre,The Mexican Suitcase,diego luna,PARADISE / PARAÍSO,bernal,Body weight exercising,Camila José Donoso,bernal garcia,spanish,gabriel gael garcia,Gael García Bernal movies,gael garica bernal,Paradise Now; Body Image, Culture, Identity, Family, Sociology, Women, Body-conscious, Vanity, Beauty Standards, Self-acceptance, Love, Relationship, Marriage, Discrimination, Obesity, Middle Class, Mexico City, Mexico, Latin America, Romantic Comedy, Mariana Chenillo, Andres Alameida, Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Toronto Film Festival; "Paradise: A Mexican romantic comedy"; Pragda
Clips
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Festivals

Toronto International Film Festival
San Sebastian Film Festival
Miami International Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
Morelia International Film Festival
The Film Society of Lincoln Center Latinbeat

DIRECTOR: Mariana Chenillo

NATIONALITY: Mexico

YEAR: 2014

GENRE: Comedy, Fiction, Romance

LANGUAGE: Spanish

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

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