From Prada to Nada
Encyclopedia
From Prada to Nada is an American romantic comedy film
directed by Angel Garcia and produced by Gary Gilbert
, Linda McDonough, Gigi Pritzker and Chris Ranta. The plot was conceived from Jane Austen
's Sense and Sensibility
. The screen play was adapted by Luis Alfaro
, Craig Fernandez and Fina Torres
to be a Latino
version of the English novel, where two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father's sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.
Pante
lion Films (joint venture of Lionsgate and Televisa
) opened this film in limited theatrical release
in the United States
on January 28, 2011. In the United States, this film grossed $3 million theatrically; the box office result met Pantelion's expectation.
) and Mary (Alexa Vega
) from Beverly Hills learn how the other side lives after their father dies unexpectedly and they are taken in by their estranged aunt in East L.A.
Nora and Mary grew up in a sprawling mansion, so far removed from their Mexican roots that Mary refuses to even acknowledge their heritage. Then in a flash, their father is gone and they are both left penniless. Fortunately, the girls have a kind-hearted aunt Aurelia (Adriana Barraza
) to fall back on. Aunt Aurelia only lives a short distance away, but East Los Angeles is so steeped in Latino culture that it may as well be on another planet. Unable to speak a word of Spanish and completely ignorant about their culture, Nora and Mary leave their comfortable world kicking and screaming. But the more time Nora and Mary spend getting to know their extended family, the more they begin to get a sense of what they've been missing by remaining locked in their ivory tower all these years. Before long Nora and Mary learn to regard their Mexican heritage with a sense of pride rather than shame and realize that all the money in the world can't buy the happiness of being surrounded and supported by family.
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
directed by Angel Garcia and produced by Gary Gilbert
Gary Gilbert
Gary Gilbert is an Oscar nominated producer and the founder and president of Gilbert Films, a motion picture production and financing company based in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert financed and produced the 2004 feature film Garden State starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. In 2005 Gilbert...
, Linda McDonough, Gigi Pritzker and Chris Ranta. The plot was conceived from Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
's Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, is a British romance novel by Jane Austen, her first published work under the pseudonym, "A Lady." Jane Austen is considered a pioneer of the romance genre of novels, and for the realism portrayed in her novels, is one the most widely read writers in...
. The screen play was adapted by Luis Alfaro
Luis Alfaro
Luis Alfaro is a renowned Chicano performance artist, writer, theater director, and social activist. His plays and fiction are set in Los Angeles's Chicano barrios, including the Pico Union district, and often feature gay and lesbian and working-class themes. Many of Alfaro's plays also deal with...
, Craig Fernandez and Fina Torres
Fina Torres
Fina Torres is a Venezuelan film director. Born in Caracas, she became known by winning la Caméra d'Or award at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival with her directorial debut film, Oriana. She studied design, photography and journalism in Venezuela and later on film at the Institut des hautes études...
to be a Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
version of the English novel, where two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father's sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.
Pante
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
lion Films (joint venture of Lionsgate and Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
) opened this film in limited theatrical release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on January 28, 2011. In the United States, this film grossed $3 million theatrically; the box office result met Pantelion's expectation.
Plot summary
Sisters Nora (Camilla BelleCamilla Belle
Camilla Belle is an American actress. Her works include The Lost World: Jurassic Park, When a Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, The Quiet, Push and Speedy Singhs.- Early life :...
) and Mary (Alexa Vega
Alexa Vega
Alexa Ellesse Vega is an American actress, singer and pianist. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the movie Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The...
) from Beverly Hills learn how the other side lives after their father dies unexpectedly and they are taken in by their estranged aunt in East L.A.
Nora and Mary grew up in a sprawling mansion, so far removed from their Mexican roots that Mary refuses to even acknowledge their heritage. Then in a flash, their father is gone and they are both left penniless. Fortunately, the girls have a kind-hearted aunt Aurelia (Adriana Barraza
Adriana Barraza
Adriana Barraza is a Mexican film and television actress and director. She has also been nominated for a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Broadcast Film Critics Association and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is also a veteran actress of Televisa telenovelas...
) to fall back on. Aunt Aurelia only lives a short distance away, but East Los Angeles is so steeped in Latino culture that it may as well be on another planet. Unable to speak a word of Spanish and completely ignorant about their culture, Nora and Mary leave their comfortable world kicking and screaming. But the more time Nora and Mary spend getting to know their extended family, the more they begin to get a sense of what they've been missing by remaining locked in their ivory tower all these years. Before long Nora and Mary learn to regard their Mexican heritage with a sense of pride rather than shame and realize that all the money in the world can't buy the happiness of being surrounded and supported by family.
Cast
- Camilla BelleCamilla BelleCamilla Belle is an American actress. Her works include The Lost World: Jurassic Park, When a Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, The Quiet, Push and Speedy Singhs.- Early life :...
as Nora Dominguez- the eldest daughter of the Dominguezes. She is a law student who does not want to put relationships above her career. She starts to fall for Olivia's brother, Edward and marries him at the end of the film. counterpart to Elinor DashwoodElinor DashwoodElinor Dashwood is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility.In this novel, Austen analyses the conflict between the opposing temperaments of sense [logic, propriety, and thoughtfulness, as expressed in Austen's time by neo-classicists], and...
. - Alexa VegaAlexa VegaAlexa Ellesse Vega is an American actress, singer and pianist. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the movie Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The...
as Mary Dominguez- the youngest daughter of the Dominguezes. She loves to shop and stay thin. She at first falls for Rodrigo until he finds out he is married. She then falls for Bruno, her aunt's neighbor. counterpart to Marianne DashwoodMarianne DashwoodMarianne Dashwood is a fictional character in the Jane Austen novel Sense and Sensibility. The 17-year-old second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood, she embodies the ‘sensibility’ of the title, as opposed to her elder sister Elinor’s ‘sense.’...
. - Wilmer ValderramaWilmer ValderramaWilmer Eduardo Valderrama is an American actor and television personality, known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show, hosting the MTV series Yo Momma, and voicing the character of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.-Early life:Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida the son of...
as Bruno- the next door neighbor of Aunt Aurelia who falls for Mary. counterpart to Colonel Brandon - Nicholas D'AgostoNicholas D'Agosto- Early life :D'Agosto was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Deanna Rae and Alen D'Agosto, who own several Arby's in Omaha. His father is Italian and his mother is of Dutch and English descent. He was raised Catholic and selected Genesius of Rome, the patron saint of actors, as his confirmation...
as Edward-the brother of Olivia who falls for Nora and becomes her husband. counterpart to Edward FerrarsEdward FerrarsEdward Ferrars is a fictional character in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. He is the elder of Fanny Dashwood's two brothers and forms an attachment to Elinor Dashwood.As first described in Sense and Sensibility:... - Kuno BeckerKuno BeckerEduardo Kuno Becker Paz is a Mexican actor who has worked in telenovelas, Mexican cinema and U.S. cinema, but is best known for his portrayal of Ruben Berrizabal in Soñadoras and Santiago Muñez in the football movie Goal! and following sequels.-Early years:Becker was born in Mexico City to Manuel...
as Rodrigo Fuentes-the married love interest of Mary. At first they date until Mary finds out he is married. counterpart to John WilloughbyJohn WilloughbyJohn Willoughby is a fictional character in Jane Austen's 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility. He is described as a handsome young single man with a small estate, but has expectations of inheriting his aunt's large estate.-First Appearance:...
. - Adriana BarrazaAdriana BarrazaAdriana Barraza is a Mexican film and television actress and director. She has also been nominated for a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Broadcast Film Critics Association and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is also a veteran actress of Televisa telenovelas...
as Aurelia Dominguez- the aunt of Nora and Mary. - April BowlbyApril BowlbyApril Michelle Bowlby is an American actress, best known for her role as Stacy on Drop Dead Diva, and also for the supporting role as Kandi, Alan's dim witted girlfriend and subsequently ex-wife on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men....
as Olivia-Gabe's mean girlfriend and Edward's sister. counterpart to Fanny Dashwood - Alexis AyalaAlexis AyalaAlexis Ayala is a Mexican-American actor of telenovelas and the cinema of Mexico.-Career:...
as Gabe Dominguez-half brother of Nora and Mary and husband of Olivia. counterpart to John Dashwood. - Catalina LópezCatalina LópezCatalina Mercedes "Katty" López Samán is an Ecuadorian beauty pageant contestant who won Miss Ecuador 2006...
as Trinita - Luis RosalesLuis RosalesLuis Rosales Camacho was a Spanish poet and essay writer member of the Generation of '36. Member of the Hispanic Society of America and the Royal Spanish Academy since 1962...
as Juan
External links
- From Prada to Nada at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...