Maria Full of Grace

Maria full of Grace was one of my favorite movies that we've watched this quarter. The movie itself speaks of a prevalent issue in today's society; the issue of drug trafficking, especially in the South American country of Colombia, a country known all around the world for this primary issue. The movie depicts the rural life of a seventeen year old girl named Maria Alvarez, who works at a flower shop, where she is poorly paid, and is treated like thrash by the owner. Maria is at a crossroad in her life, being that she is also having issues with her boyfriend, who doesn't seem to care to much for her. Along with the problem at her workplace, she finds life as being a struggle. She works because she is the only financial source for her very impoverished family, and she has to provide for not only herself and family, but also for her unemployed sister's baby. She also finds out that she is pregnant by her boyfriend, a guy who she really doesn't love. So with all of these problems, she decides to quit her job, and go searching for a new one, and with the help of a friend she meets at a party (Franklin), she becomes a "mule", smuggling cocaine. After recieving this job, and being told of the risks, along with the rewards, she is sent to New York, along with her bestfriend who also becomes a mule (Blanca), and another woman named Lucy. She swallows 63 pellets. After arriving at the airport, she is detained and was almost caught, but because she was pregnant they couldn't risk hurting the baby with x-rays. She is sent on her way, but one issue occurs when Lucy's pellets bust in her body, and she dies, sending Lucy and Blanca on their way to escape. In the end however Lucy and Blanca recieve the money, but lose a friend, and then have to tell Lucy's family of the loss.

Similarities between the movie and my life is found in the ages of the main character and myself. We are both in our late teens, and seem to have to much time on our hands, but still find that we also have to many problems to deal with. The kindness of her heart is also a similarity. However, differences include our living circumstances, and in what country we live in.