Want to watch a wealthy white man make an ass of himself? Not the one on the news – the one played so accurately by John Lithgow in Beatriz at Dinner.
Salma Hayek plays Beatriz. She looks way beyond putting up with morons like Lithgow’s Doug Strutt. (What a name!) She looks like a one woman Women’s March and Strutt is her target.
In this era of Trump, it’s more important than ever to see an intelligent, nuanced Latina character and how she stands up to white privilege.
Beatriz is performing her healing arts on Connie Britton’s character when her car breaks down. This necessitates an invitation to dinner and the culture clash that makes up the majority of the film.
Strutt mistakes her for the maid. He asks her if she’s legal. If the trailer is our guide, no one else at the dinner party raises a word in her behalf. Also starring in Beatriz at Dinner are Chloë Sevigny, Connie Britton, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass, and David Warshofsky. Miguel Arteta directed.
It looks both funny and painful. The audience may be squirming along with Beatriz.
Reviewers who saw the film at Sundance mentioned the ambiguous ending. Alexander Ortega in “Slug Magazine” said, “Hayek delivers a spellbinding performance as Beatriz, who maintains her composure amid blatant racism, classism and outright rudeness. Hayek allows Beatriz to beam with energy and balance.”
Beatriz at Dinner opens on June 9. Are you interested in seeing this dark, political comedy?
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Hells bells YES!
Looks good.