A simple Google search for “best romantic comedies of all time” will lead you down a nostalgic hole of 90s and early 2000s films like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “PS I love you.” These classics, among many others, have shaped the way we perceive love on screen. But through these films, we have learned what love looks like through White protagonists; many BIPOC communities have failed to see themselves reflected. While we’ve seen Latina actresses like Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, and Christina Milian make their mark early on in romantic comedy films (and over time). years, we’ve seen other Latinas sporadically take the lead, like Gina Rodriguez in “Someone Great”). For years, the entertainment industry has undervalued and underrepresented Latina communities on screen and behind the camera.
Camila Mendes is changing that narrative. You probably recognize her from romantic comedies like “Palm Springs,” “The Perfect Date” and “The New Romantic” – and she stars in the new romantic film “Música” and is an executive producer. also stars and is directed by her boyfriend, Rudy Mancuso.
“As much as we love the rom-coms of the ’90s and early 2000s, things have changed, and that doesn’t mean you have to overtly like doing like a woke rom-com, but I think it does. is more about finding ways to make them more interesting and grounded in the experience of finding love today,” she says.
Indeed, “Música” expands what it means to be Latinx on screen – with more specifically needed representation of the Brazilian-American experience. The film follows Mancuso’s character, also named Rudy, as he navigates the trials and tribulations of family life, romance and career decisions, all while living with rhythmic synesthesia. This rare neurological disease causes a person to experience multiple senses simultaneously.
The film is based on Mancuso’s reality, where he turns to music as the solution to everything. It traces his own upbringing and uses the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, home to many Brazilians, as a backdrop.
Mendes plays Isabella, Rudy’s love interest. What makes her role in “Música” so special is the authenticity of her own cultural background as a Brazilian American. It’s also the first time she’s taken on a role that allows her to draw directly from her own heritage, and she even speaks Portuguese, which she’s fluent in.
“It was an opportunity that I had been waiting for my whole career, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I would ever get this opportunity,” Mendes said. “I thought I was going to have to create it myself. I was planning to create it [create something myself]but this project was ahead of the curve, and I was like, “What a dream come true to finally be able to, you know, perform my authentic culture instead of having to pretend to be someone else.” [ethnicity other than my own].'”
Mendes highlights the need to open up how Latins are represented in these films, as well as the importance of centering Latins of all different backgrounds.
“We’ve seen so many romantic comedies and a lot of storylines played out, and I think it’s just nice to have a new take and introduce a cultural element that you don’t normally see in these romantic comedies. – coms,” she said.
“We’ve seen so many romantic comedies and a lot of storylines played out, and I think it’s just nice to have a new take and introduce a cultural element that you don’t normally see in these romantic comedies. – com.”
It’s clear that Hollywood continues to miss culturally specific elements when telling our stories. But true representation isn’t just about having us in these rooms; it’s about making sure the characters and storylines that get the green light capture the nuances that truly make our communities who they are.
“I just know that I have a responsibility to my culture that I take on with pleasure, and I take it on myself because there aren’t many of us in Hollywood who can tell this story and have the ability to make projects happen.” , Mendes said of his responsibility to amplify broader narratives of Brazilian culture on screen. “I’m going to use my power to that advantage and help bring the industry to a place where that can happen more regularly.”
As she cements her place as a Brazilian-American romantic comedy sensation, Mendes acknowledges that there’s still room for evolution when it comes to these films. And she wants to see Hollywood subvert the genre in new and compelling ways.
Still, Mendes can appreciate the legacy of romantic comedy classics. She can narrow down her favorites to two: “How to Lose a Man in 10 Days” and “Along Came Polly.” She believes that the latter does not get the credit he deserves. As for his all-time romantic comedy with Jennifer Lopez, the OG Latina of movies, it goes with 2001’s iconic “The Wedding Planner.”
After the release of “Música,” Mendes hasn’t yet found time to slow down. But running with a busy schedule is what motivates her.
“Sometimes it’s a good thing, you know, when you stay busy during something like this, it keeps you in the present moment. I think it’s easy to get carried away focusing on what people say and how they react.” she says. “Even though, luckily for us, it’s all very positive, but there’s something really nice about persevering and getting on with your life because there’s still more to do.”
There’s always something for Mendes to do; his latest work includes a partnership with aperitif drink Aperol at Coachella. She says it was very special to bring to life.
“Aperol spritz is a drink that my best friend and I always drank together. When [she and I] We were roommates, we had a summer ritual where I went to get an orange from the orange tree [in my backyard] and she would make us Aperol spritzes,” she shares. “I associate that drink with that experience of spending quality time with my best friend.”
Even though her best friend wasn’t able to attend Coachella with her this year, Mendes says she was there in spirit. Mendes, for his part, plans to take a moment to slow down and enjoy the success of “Música.” And as the Latin community’s new rom-com queen, it seems fitting that she gets to celebrate the film’s success with her, too. on-screen and real-life love interest, Mancuso.
Brenda Barrientos is a Peruvian American journalist and social strategist with over seven years of experience. In addition to her social media work, Brenda writes about music and culture, with a particular focus on Latino creators. In addition to PS, his writing has been published by Billboard, Byrdie, People en Español, Refinery29, Rolling Stone, and more.