Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It is a powerful and captivating documentary that spans decades, celebrating the life and career of the unparalleled Rita Moreno. Bagging major awards like an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony, Moreno stands as one of the select few who have achieved the much-coveted 'EGOT' status in the showbiz industry. However, her journey to success was no walk in the park. Meticulously introspective, this 2021 release delves into Moreno's life unveiling her trials and triumphs, which had long been overshadowed by the shimmer of her success.

Directed brilliantly by Mariem Pérez Riera, the documentary portrays Moreno's story via a unique blend of interviews, archival footage, and animation. The outcome is a distinct narrative style that not only engages viewers but also ignites an emotional connection with the subject. The documentary draws on an extensive range of sources to craft an authentic and complex account of Moreno's life, slicing through the veneer of fame to expose the person beneath.

Commencing with Moreno's humble origins, the movie takes the audience on a riveting journey from her birthplace in Puerto Rico to her eventual migration to New York City with her mother. The narrative then traverses her struggles and challenges in Hollywood, her fight against racial prejudice, her endeavors for fair representation, and her advocacy for women's rights. The insurmountable odds that she faced is a testimony to her grit and passion which she has maintained throughout her career.

The plot of Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It is intensified by various significant interviews. Some have been conducted with Moreno herself, while others involve key figures from her personal and professional life. Interviews with show business veterans like Justina Machado and Norman Lear lend deeper insight into Moreno's extraordinary career and her magnetic presence both on and off screen.

Norman Lear, a giant within television industry, and Moreno's co-star in the critically acclaimed show “One Day at a Time”, reveals a more personal perspective of Moreno, acknowledging not just her talent but her relentless perseverance too. On the other hand, Justina Machado, another co-star from the same show, provides a more contemporary point of view and sheds light on Moreno's enduring influence on newer generations, emphasizing the timelessness of her journey.

The movie astutely highlights Moreno's varied roles in cinema, from playing the sultry Anita in the West Side Story, for which she bagged an Oscar, to portraying the sassy Lydia on Netflix's One Day at a Time. However, it does not shy away from her off-screen life either. Including her role as a mother and even her darker periods of depression and grappling with her self-image, it pulls back the curtain and reveals an unfiltered tale of a woman who challenged norms and carved her own path.

Moreover, the film equally emphasizes the struggles associated with her gender and ethnicity that Moreno had to endure in the 1950s’ Hollywood. These periods of adversity, infused with her resilience, provide audiences with a sobering illustration of her life's trajectory. Through trials, tribulation, and triumph, Moreno's life unfurls in a captivating tale of survival and redemption.

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It also toys with animated sequences, bringing Moreno's memories and anecdotes to life in vivid detail. These animations serve as a cinematic device to beautifully capture the essence of certain instances that had a profound impact on her and her journey. This innovative approach adds more depth to the narrative, creating an immersive storytelling experience.

One of the many laudable aspects of this release is that it doesn't sugarcoat Moreno's life or attempt a hagiography. On the contrary, it exposes the multi-faceted personality behind the icon, simultaneously revealing the glory and the grit. Raw, heart-tugging, and honest, the film is a rich tapestry that weaves together Moreno's illustrious career, her personal agony, and her relentless activism, to deliver a compelling toast to her life.

In a nutshell, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It is a celebration of a luminous star that continues to sparkle on the horizons of showbiz. Her story inspires hope, showing us that regardless of where we start, the possibility to change our stars rests solely in our hands. It is a must-watch for those who yearn to be moved by a tale of resilience and success against all odds.