Real Women Have Curves is the break out film for Latina Director Patricia Cardoso. It's also the feature film debut of actress America Ferrera, recently of Ugly Betty fame. She plays a recent high school graduate who spends the summer after graduation working in her sister's sweat shop making dresses with her browbeaten sister, overbearing mother, and other women who can do no better really. Ferrera's character faces a dilemma between working in this dead-end job due to a guilt trip laid on her by her neurotic mother and attempting to get accepted to Columbia University in New York City. The film makes it clear that going to any college in such a familia would be nearly out of the question, so it is a monumental headache for Ferrera's character to consider this decision all summer while simultaneously battling her domineering mamacita (played to perfection by Lupe Ontiveros) and considering the overtures of a white male classmate. Along the way, Ferrera learns how to deal with her invalidating mama, accept herself for who she is, and take a chance at her dreams. Ferrera was certainly a discovery when this film was released, and she appears to have had little trouble since finding work. Her character, Ana, is so natural and realistic in this film that one forgets this is a movie. The film has several nice touches, such as the characters speaking both English and Spanish spontaneously which often happens in Latin-American families in real life. The scene with the two sisters facing off against the corporate businesswoman also dispels stereotypes Spanish-speaking people often have about others. The stripping scene in the sweatshop while liberating the women from the strictures society places on heavy women also signifies Ana's liberation from her oppressive mother's criticism, if only temporarily. The soundtrack is full of lively Spanish songs, adding to the film's appeal. The film is aided significantly by its location shooting. It won the Audience Award at Sundance. *** of 4 stars.