Napoleon Dynamite

Recently I saw Napoleon Dynamite an independent film directed by Jared Jess and starred by Jon Heder and Tina Majorino, the movie has a social satire context developed in a high school at Idaho United States. While the story isn't very complicated it still manages to appeal to adults and teens alike.

Stereotypes

Stereotypes about mexican people are expressed in the move using Pedro, such as accent, clothes, style of life, believes. Let’s extend some info about it. Who is the santo niño de atocha which Pedro mentioned in his speech? In the 13th century Madrid was lost to the Muslim invaders, and many Christians there were taken prisoners as spoils of war. The Christians were placed on strict punishments and prohibitions, and the devout prisoners were denied food by their captors. According to legend, only children under the age of 12 were permitted to bring them food.Reports soon began among the people that a child under the age of twelve had begun to bring food to childless prisoners. The child was dressed in pilgrim's clothing yet could not be identified as to the name of the child or its origin. In fact  the santo niño de atocha is a Roman Catholic image of the Child Jesus. In Mexico therefore some people have an image of Santo niño de atocha in their houses as a pray to Jesus to avoid lack of food or basic goods for their families.


The piñata story

Summer and Pedro were competing to the president position at their school. Summer a cheerleader was working in gain votes using flyers and ads to his classmates meanwhile Pedro made a Pinata which in fact was looking like Summer. In the history original piñata was represented by a star shape and seven pikes “The Seven Deadly Sins” and colored with shining colors representing  yearn. Nowadays piñata makers found that they can sell more piñatas if they made them look like cartoon characters, it is not common in Mexico find piñatas looking like real people, only in those cases when piñata makers want to make a mock or offence to someone they do it.

What I loved most was the musical selection like Canned heat by Jamiroquai and The Promise by When In Rome, my favorite part of the movie: when Napoleon danced as skit of Pedro Sanchez, I enjoyed when Napoleon exhales in response about something disgusting and expressions  like “sweet”, “such an idiot!”, “geez!”, “fine!” and “I caught you a delicious bass”.

I’m yearning to see another movie like this, not only because it had not too much money spent in locations, stage, dressing, etc. but also because it is a good story and terrific music. By the way my most viewed video in youtube is “Napoleon Dynamite dance scene”. (636, 522 views and counting).

Enjoy it.