OUTFEST 2000 - REVIEWS
- By Shosho Scholar
Saturday Night Review: 
Desi's Looking for a New Girl 
Told through the eyes of Desi's skateboarding best friend, DESI's LOOKING FOR A NEW GIRL portrays the heartfelt, often comical struggles we all face when a relationship ends. Left by her lover for a younger woman, Desi spends her days in solitude except for clumsy intrusions from her well-meaning family and friends. One by one her friends attempt to resurrect her fallen hopes by setting her up on a series of blind dates. 
First off this film was sponsored in part by an exciting new group called Lucha - a Latin lesbian arts organization based at UCLA. Mary Guzman, the director gave a rather shy speech thanking everyone and graciously introducing every cast member in the audience and the movie began to the loudest applause I have heard for a non-live performance. The story was really cute, a sad and familiar tale of love lost and arming yourself for the world of near misses that we call 'dating'. I loved some of the characters - especially the narrator. I also enjoyed the performance of Desi - a played by a charming actress Desi del Valle.  There were however a few difficulties for me - I found the use of computer generated cartoons distracting. The story was a little difficult to follow; the narrative structure was a little complicated. Regardless though, I think the movie was entertaining and quirky.
Desi is a film almost entirely populated by Latin lesbians and that in and of itself is remarkable. Also, the film left many of the Spanish and English dialogues without subtitles. It showed me that the presumption that the audience the film was made for was presumed - or to have at least a cursory understanding of Spanish. II think this was a solid stance for Guzman to take - it would have disrupted the visual flow of the film otherwise and it made the uncommon mistake of overestimating the audience. There were great moments throughout the film that make Mary Guzman definitely someone I will keep an eye on.
 | | ABOUT SHOSHO
Shosho, aka Shoshanna Scholar is a Canadian writer, art consultant and Lexicographer living and working in Los Angeles. Her other writings include plays, short stories, interviews and political pieces about queer issues in the areas of sex and health. Contact: shoshos@yahoo.com |
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