Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021)

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Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become one of a select group who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. Over a seventy year career, she has paved the way for Hispanic-American performers by refusing to be pigeonholed into one-dimensional stereotypes.

Film Introduction
"Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It" is an engaging documentary film that shines light on the life and profession of program service legend, Rita Moreno. Released in 2021, the movie not only pictures Moreno's life as an artist but likewise discuss the tough struggle she had to endure as a Puerto Rican actress attempting to make it in Hollywood. This biographical documentary, directed by Mariem PĂ©rez Riera, supplies a heart-wrenching and inspiring take a look at how Moreno got rid of challenges associated with her ethnic culture and gender in a mainly white and male movie market.

Overview of Rita Moreno's Early Life
The opening series of the film supplies a look into Moreno's childhood in Puerto Rico and her subsequent relocation, with her mom, to New York City. The young performer dealt with hardship and bias - from changing her Puerto Rican name to facing derogatory representations of Latinas in movie. She quickly suit the stereotyped functions offered for Latina starlets such as the "hot Latina" or the Native American "squaw". Regardless of these setbacks, Moreno stood firm and revealed her potential as a versatile actress.

The Rise to Success
The movie shows Moreno's constant rise to success in Hollywood. Among the pivotal moments was her advancement function in the 1961 movie "West Side Story", where she played Anita - this would ultimately land Moreno an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. However, the documentary likewise explores the fallout from what must have been a landmark victory for her profession. After winning the Oscar, Moreno was still restricted to typecast functions due to her ethnicity. Discouraged, she made the potent decision to decline anymore stereotypical roles, which caused a hiatus from movie.

Rita Moreno's Personal Life
While the focus of the documentary is Moreno's expert career, it also covers personal elements. It discusses her rocky relationship with Marlon Brando and the mental health concerns she dealt with as a result, consisting of suicidal tendencies. She eventually got wed to Leonard Gordon, a cardiologist, with whom she had a daughter, Fernanda Gordon Fisher. However, the movie also handles the darker elements of the marital relationship, including power dynamics and emotional abuse.

The Iconic Comeback
Moreno's courage bore fruit when she made a comeback on American tv. After several years of struggle, she lastly got functions that showcased her talent and not her ethnicity, including her Emmy-winning performance in "The Muppet Show" and "The Rockford Files". Today, she is among the couple of artists who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, therefore entering the prominent EGOT club.

Conclusion
"Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It" is a motivating tale of a female who triumphed over difficulty and bias. With interviews from Norman Lear, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg and others, the film paints a complete portrait of Moreno's battle, resilience, and ultimately, her triumph. Beyond her individual story, the film shines a light on larger issues like racism, sexism, and mental health issues common in Hollywood. For this reason, the documentary stands as both a homage to an extraordinary entertainer and a critique of a prejudiced market.

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