Juanita

100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 30 Day 30
Juanita

I am pleasantly surprised when I find a random movie on Netflix. You never know what you're going to get but normally they're pretty good. Today when I logged on to Netflix a preview for a movie called Juanita popped up. I decided why not it's only an hour and a half movie let's see what this has to offer. And I have to say it was a very charming and sweet foam to watch especially an international women's day.

Alfre Woodard plays Juanita. She is taking control of her life and shaking things up. She is a single mother of three.  Her family has had its ups and downs. Her eldest son is currently in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Her daughter has a one-year-old child and her other son is in and out gangs and trouble. Juanita works long hours at a nursing home to try and keep her family together. Juanita's only escape is the occasional fantasy about Blair Underwood. It's actually very funny because Blair Underwood plays fantasy Blair Underwood and it's absolutely hilarious. It's fun to see a sophisticated actor like Blair Underwood make fun of himself. Juanita decide that she's had enough. She packs a bag, hops on the bus and takes off out West. She tells our kids they're on their own and she needs to do this for herself.

Juanita ends up in Butte, Montana where meets a random trucker named Peaches. Peaches is a fun-loving lesbian woman who decides to befriend Juanita. Peaches tells Juanita she needs to get out of Butte and travel to a small town called Paper Moon and Peaches will take her there. In Paper Moon, Juanita meets a local Native American restaurant owner named Jess. Jess is trying to be a fancy french chef but the locals are not big fans of the food. They want normal diner food and Juanita comes in and teaches Jess how to cook southern food. She tells the restaurant clients to tell everyone there is a black lady cooking in the kitchen.

One of the best parts of the film is it combines two very rich cultures. We see aspects of both the Native American and the African American experience is in America. How both these rich cultures can come together and thrive. Juanita gets to experience real Native American culture in the mountains of Montana but she also gets to show her own personality and flare.

It also is a story for anyone who feels stuck in their life. Juanita finally realizes that she needs a change in her life. She knows it's going to be difficult but it's what is best for her and maybe even her children. It's never too late to start over. But it's also never too late to continue on a new adventure. This movie encourages women to find their own voice and to just be who they are truly meant to be.