The documentary “Half” that aired last weekend on Netflix accompanies Latin star Jennifer Lopez in the turbulent year of her life, the year she was chosen to appear in the world’s largest entertainment show – Half of the American Super Bowl and at the same time made one of the strongest films of her career. Like many things Jay Lou has done, this film is also a wide range of emotions, above all the fact that women like her are a very rare commodity for women all over the world.
Throughout the film Lopez tells her story, as a Latin woman in the US, who reinvented herself as a dancer, as an actress and as a singer until she reached the big stages in the world. Despite the obsessive preoccupation of tabloids in her life, And who tried to put her under a specific headline, she broke the boundaries of herself, of women in general and yes, of artists and creators wherever they are. Her body.When watching Bing the interviews in which she was asked by men and women alike about her curves, her weight, and the size of her buttocks realize that this day in life would not pass, but mostly amazed at the rough response she provided every time she was asked intrusively about her body, and had nothing left but to remove In her face the hat for the courage and uncompromising power to insist that this is a clearly unworthy question, even in times when women used to giggle and convey a subject in embarrassment. Woman, I’m Latin. I’m looking forward to it. You’re not, you expect to be treated properly, I know it’s not going to happen. “
In one of the most exciting moments in the film, she tells of the times when she had to silence her sensuality because she was afraid that if she was too sexy they would not take her seriously. She said that “many times we feel the need to undo a certain part of ourselves, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” Lopez’s stuff is an important lesson for any woman who sits at home and feels she needs to humble certain parts of herself to be more okay with everyone, and is a lesson for anyone who feels the need to undo certain parts in someone just so she can get a better eye on him.
The film opens with the release of the film “Hustlers”, or in the heavenly translation into Hebrew “scams without account” in which Jay Lou both starred and took part in its production. The plot of the film tells the story of strippers, led by Lopez as Ramona, who decide to rewrite the story of their lives and rob their richest clients. The film not only conveys female power, it also delivers it in the field, in a behind-the-scenes team that is all women from diverse ethnic backgrounds. “It’s a production that is all about women, and it’s very rare in Hollywood,” says Lopez, who for those who did not tell themselves, has starred in more than 40 films in her career.
And perhaps that is precisely why the film, which was a dizzying success at the box office and with the critics, did not receive the respect it deserved in the prestigious institutions of cinema in Hollywood. At the Golden Globe Awards, Lopez was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, 20 years after her previous nomination for her role as “Selena” in a film about her life, but the winner was Laura Daren, the blonde and white actress for her role in “Marriage Story.” After the criticism of Lauren’s win over Lopez faded, everyone talked about her being nominated for an Oscar for this role, but as mentioned, the nominees were all – white and blonde.
At this point the documentary also touches on the delicate lines within the intricacies of feminism, and addresses black feminism whose challenges are many of those of white women’s privileged feminism, most of which are not as weakened as the flag bearers of black feminism. The nomination for the 2020 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress was charged not only with the sheer choice of female nominees, across a long line of actresses from various backgrounds who deserved nominations but also against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s presidency, racist remarks against Hispanic citizens and his work on the issue. . Lopez, unlike many stars of other ethnic backgrounds, chose not to remain silent and make her voice heard as a Puerto Rican woman in the United States and to shout the cry of immigrants arrested in detention centers and separated from their children. In an entire career.
Which directly leads to preparations for the Super Bowl show for which she was chosen along with singer Shakira. Lopez says as a bite that it’s a little weird that two women took to the show. If there were a male singer, there would be a selection each in itself ‘, this feeling is exacerbated in light of the fact that in the production they chose not to extend the show but to let them divide by the minutes. Despite the humiliation evident throughout the film she had no intention of providing a revealing show where they would just “move their butts”. Lopez wanted to convey a message, and give meaning. She wanted to take advantage of the great stage given to her and give a statement for all Latin women and girls all over the world. and so it was. Lopez came up with the backdrop that contained light cages in protest of the incarceration of Latin immigrants and Trump’s policies toward immigrants, and even though even the day before the show the high-ranking NFL wanted to remove them completely, Lopez fought and did not give up the criticism she wanted to voice on this show. Lopez also incorporated Hispanic girls who danced Latin dances, and her daughter in the final song. As soon as they got on stage she looked at the girls’ faces and told them they were the voice of all the Latin girls in the world, and instructed them to “look at the camera and sing to every girl and woman there at home” let’s get loud, and never be silent “. The sparkling eyes of the girls who appeared with her were proof of how important Lopez is in world culture, and it was clear to anyone who watched this segment that none of them, those on stage and those watching her from home, would be silent in life.