Gringa

Directed by E.J. Foerster & Marny Eng

★★½

Family dynamics, tragedy, and alcoholism are common themes in coming-of-age films, obviously due to the fact that these things are easy for the viewer to relate to due to the commonalities of the themes. The new film Gringa, from directors E.J. Foerster and Marny Eng, is no exception.

Gringa follows Marge (played by 26-year-old Jess Gabor, somehow playing what I believe is 14 here) as she makes the sudden move to Mexico in search of her long-departed, alcoholic father (Steve Zahn) following the death of her mother (played all too briefly by the fantastic Judy Greer).

It’s nothing new. We’ve seen these themes explored countless times on our screens, either in movie or television formats. The film hits every genre cliche it can manage: tragic loss, down-on-their-luck parent, pre-climax fight with said parent, bullies, self-image issues, etc. Yet, despite wading through familiar plot points, Gringa succeeds on the sheer determination of its leads and the heart that is felt throughout its runtime.

After a barrage of films being dumped on streaming services and released in theaters, it is a bit refreshing to come across a film that, while it may not be on the level of some of its genre predecessors, is consistently character-focused and can constantly be found wearing its heart on its sleeve. Gringa is by no means groundbreaking or exploring new territories, but it still manages to be relevant and deserving of a watch. Just please give us more Judy Greer!

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