Doris Muñoz is a young, ambitious music manager whose undocumented family depends on her ability to launch pop stars. When she loses her biggest client, Doris hustles to discover new talent and finds Jacks, another daughter of immigrants for whom "making it" isn't just a dream: it's a necessity.
Minhas Filhas, 미하
USA
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
South Korea12
Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
USA
USA
South Korea
USA
I’m here for Doris’ dad ❤️
The final 20 min to MIJA — an odyssey that navigates the music business and the immigration system — are so affecting, so cathartic that it’s a shame how much of the previous hour features really odd decisions with regards to the writing, and some scenes (separate from the dreamlike aesthetic) that quite frankly appear staged. This needed a tighter handle on the storytelling, as the filmmaking fell far short of the singular subject.
Idk how to truly feel about this. On one hand, the immigrant story with mixed-status families is so important to be put on screen and to show the struggles that these families go through, the responsibilities that these children feel from a young age to do this while also juggling what do you want to do with your life. On the other hand, everyone that actually cares about this already knows that.
Maybe it's also how I feel about this style of documentary, like how real are these situations and how much are they staged? The observer bias is real imo. One of the most real portions of this film is when the main subject records a video call with…
Sundance 2022 - Film #5
Mija is an imitate look into following one’s dreams, even if it leads to substantial regret and guilt. At its best when the main focus is Doris Muñoz and her family’s stories, but a watch that shouldn’t be pushed aside.
Soulful, layered, striving. The first two-thirds burn slowly, but I felt those immigrant themes in my bones and the ending was a perfect crescendo.
Sundance 2022
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Mija is a beautiful documentary about the women/children of immigrant parents, their unique experiences and barriers they’re breaking in the indie music scene. An experimental hand and direction felt sometimes disorienting but ultimately is effective and refreshing. These women are luminous. Their families resilient and warm. I was in tears at some point while looking at a laptop through a camera lense.
“The film is ultimately about representation and the importance of it” Director Isabel Castro
This is why the medium exists. Hoping this gem gets distribution asap!
Such a beautiful mix of cinéma vérité, home videos, and narration. A documentary that's both vast and intimate.
Sundance #9: Going into Isabel Castro’s documentary Mija, I didn’t even know that it was a documentary. The synopsis of an Hispanic woman trying to make it in the music industry as a manager sounded like it could’ve easily been a narrative feature. What it actually turned out to be is a heartfelt portrait of two Hispanic women trying to make it in the music industry to support their immigrant parents. Mija is beautifully shot and edited with so much compassion for its subjects that it’s hard not to sob in the final 20 minutes— I certainly did. Isabel Castro has already been recognized for her work, so I guess Mija confirms she’s a filmmaker to keep an eye out for. Bless this movie and everyone involved.
I really liked the inclusion of home videos in the introduction and conclusion. The ending was powerful and felt perfect for this story. This doc depicts a really important perspective of daughters of immigrants.
“Mija” is a great tribute to immigrants, the struggles they face, the pressure their children feel as they navigate through so much bureaucracy, and the dreams they all ultimately have and want to pursue. It’s a documentary that will speak volumes to many in similar situations, and will hopefully open people’s eyes who are lucky enough to not have to worry about when they’ll next be able to be with their loved ones, or even go about their lives without constant fear. The strongest documentaries share people’s souls, successes and struggles with us, and Isabel Castro achieves just that in her strong feature debut.
while it's unfocused and a little stagey at times, it's got a big heart and tells an underrepresented side of immigrant life in America
didn’t realize how badly I needed a good cry sesh
RUINA EMOCIONAL!!!!
