Girl in Progress is a film that’s a modern-day spin on all of the other coming-of-age stories. The film stars Eva Mendes, Patricia Arquette, and Cierra Ramirez.
The movie is about a teenage girl named Ansiedad (Ramirez) who acts like the parent and a woman named Grace (Mendes) who acts like the teenager. After studying coming-of-age stories in school, Ansiedad feels like she needs her own. So she rebels and starts acting immature, by dumping her best friend and getting into the popular crowd, with plans to lose her virginity and leave town.
The trailer makes the film seem like a comedy, but it’s very much a drama. There are scenes that are absolutely painful to watch. Like when Ansiedad humiliates her best friend. I actually had to look away. It was heartbreaking. But, in all fairness, it was supposed to make you feel uncomfortable.
Even though Ansiedad is indulging in self-destructive behavior and Grace is involved in an affair, you never stop rooting for the two of them. The show’s strength is in the writing, directing, and acting. All of these factors make for a good movie for women of all ages.
I do have a small complaint. That’s the character named “Mission Impossible.” For some reason, they show us a wonderful side to him and then rip the carpet out from under us and go a completely different direction for him. I thought that we were supposed to be rooting for him!
With that said, I really liked this film and it made me value the relationship with my wonderful mother all the more. I thank God Almighty for her. Mother-daughter relationships are a blessing. Even though the mother-daughter relationship was a big part of the movie, the lesson here was about being responsible. When it came to losing her virginity, Ansiedad had to make the right decision. The same was true with Grace, because when it came to being there for her daughter, she had to do what was right. It was all about growing up and acting mature.
I hope that all women, especially mothers and daughters, will check this movie out. It’s a sweet film!
