Margarita - the girl everyone wants to marry + Interview with directors laurie Colbert and Dominique Cardona- Win a copy of the DVD

Margarita - winning your heart

WIN: Details of our competition to win a copy at the bottom of the article

Rating: sweet, funny, and a character to fall in love with




Margarita is a pleasure to watch. It's an evolved lesbian storyline where for once the story isn’t to do with coming out, or difficulties of being lesbian.We spoke to directors Laurie Colbert and Dominique Cardona about the issues raised in this film. They said "MARGARITA is still screening at festivals throughout the world and has won several audience awards. The overall reaction at the screenings we attended was very positive, in terms of what people shared with us. We did get a lot of comments via social media and during interviews indicating that viewers were really happy to see a film with lesbian characters who weren’t questioning their sexual identity. As filmmakers, we were more interested in making a film about the class structure that still exists in a society that’s legislatively “class-free”. The fact that our lead character is an out lesbian is more a reflection of our own reality."

Identity is explored, but through the teenage daughter, Mali's, character rather than the lesbian character. Colbert and Cardona explain: "The teenager, Mali, is completely blasé about her nanny’s sexuality. Through Mali, we wanted to explore the notion that openness to the diversity of sexuality is not a determining factor in the development of a child’s own sexuality. It’s clear that Mali has an innocent crush on Margarita and it’s not threatening to her. We wanted to portray a teenager who hadn’t had a sexual experience, but whose first experiences would be free of any imposed values or fear of judgment. She really becomes a representation of the childhood many of us would have chosen for ourselves."

The story is a nice twist of the characters around the protagonist growing and changing and becoming better because of her, rather than the protagonist going on that journey of growth (although there is a little bit of self realisation going on...).  Colbert and Cardona reveal, "We wanted to have an intelligent and capable central character, but one who’s also in a vulnerable situation. The idea was to surround her with characters who needed her, but were incapable of supporting her needs because they couldn’t empathize with her experience. 

"We were interested in portraying a family who took advantage of an undocumented worker through ignorance/laziness as opposed to through any malevolent plan to do so. It is only when the family is confronted with Margarita leaving them because of immigration problems that they are forced to consider her reality and evolve as more aware and caring individuals in order to help her."

    To the outside, Gail and Ben have it all two successful careers, a beautiful house, lots of vacations and an amazing nanny for their teenage daughter, Mali (FINN'S GIRL star, Maya Ritter). However behind the facade, bad investments have the family disconnected, resentful and just about broke.

At the centre of this drama is Mali's young lesbian Mexican nanny, Margarita. Unknown to her employers Margarita has been working for the family illegally for the past six years but despite all this she is passionate, resourceful and devoted to them. She is the nanny, the housekeeper, the cook, the maid and even the repair woman. Margarita is well aware of their financial issues and has been stretching resources in creative ways.

But life is not all work for Margarita, the shy law student Jane is clearly in love with her but is hesitant to bring their relationship out from the closet.

When Gail and Ben decide that the best way for them to save money is by firing Margarita they set off a chain of events that lead to her deportation. Heart broken, Mali withdraws from her parents, forcing them to take an honest look at themselves.

The well-meaning couple, now desperate to keep Margarita in the country, come up with a scheme to keep her around. But on the eve of her departure, Jane arrives with one proposition that could change everything.

The closing film of the 2013 BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and from the directors of FINN'S GIRL, comes this warm, funny and loving drama, looking at issues around race, class and immigration 
 
      View the trailer

Get your copy!
Available: Via Amazon, from 25 November. RRP £12.99

WIN a copy of the DVD - visit our competition page and answer: 'What film did directors Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert work with actor Maya Ritter on prior to Margarita?'
Deadline: 29 November