For a vastly different yet equally authentic take on the struggles of Mexican American L.A. life, look no further than the women-driven, woman-directed 1994 indie "Mi Vida Loca."
The film, which offers a look at the lives and times of women in the gang hot spot neighborhood of Echo Park, was the third directorial effort of then-local Allison Anders, a legend of underground American film making. Inspired by Anders' conversations with her neighborhood's Chicana gang members, the film sought to scare up as much authenticity as possible by employing both professional and non-professional actors (via KQED).
Even though gang life is important to the film's plot, it is not properly a gang film. Instead, "Mi Vida Loca" angles on the everyday ups and downs of Sad Girl (Angel Aviles), Mousie (Seidy López), Whisper (Nelida Lopez), Giggles (Marlo Marron), and Baby Doll (Christina Solis) as they face the grind of raising their children right, honoring their friendships with each other under duress, and doing what it takes to survive. It makes for a brilliant, deeply felt character drama, and a snapshot of Chicana culture like no other.
