Reframing Latin America: A Cultural Theory Reading ... - BGSU Blogs

figure 17.2 Paco sits at a typewriter in Mi familia
film foray: MI FAMILIA 313
Even in the exceptions to this rule, such as the prominence given to
María’s harrowing journey back to Los Angeles, the focus is on women as
facilitators of male agency. Women operate from within traditional spheres
to maintain the unity of the patriarchal family. Since the fi lm does not take
a critical stance on this issue, as it certainly attempts to do with Latino stereotypes
vis-à-vis the I Love Lucy show, Mi familia inadvertently forms part
of the genre of Mexican-American fi lms that invite its audiences to defi ne
Chicano identity as singularly masculine. 5
The fi lm also limits the defi nition of Chicano identity, while endeavoring
to expand U.S. identity to include Mexican Americans, through the discourse
of Chicano citizenship. Mi familia continually reinforces the idea that being
part of the Chicano community means embracing an identity in limbo between
Mexico and the United States. Consider that the one character in the
fi lm who asserts only his U.S. identity—Memo, the lawyer who marries an
Anglo—is also the only wholly unsympathetic character in the fi lm.
At various intervals we are invited to condemn Memo for apparently
turning his back on his Mexican heritage. He lives on the wealthy West
side and anglicizes his name to William Sánchez, which he proudly displays
on the door to his law office. The baseball cap he wears when dressing casually,
and the suit when formally, contrast with Chucho’s and Jimmy’s
vato look and the guayaberas worn by Paco and José. When he takes his