Planning: Maria Full of Grace

Introduction

The joint American-Colombian drama film has successfully met the threshold for a properly planned movie. The movie, directed by Joshua Marston depicts rural life in Colombia. It reflects the struggles people in the society face as they grapple with basic necessities to afford a descent living. It highlights the tendency among a section of the population to adopt even the illegal means to earn a living (Palmerlee 549). The success attained in planning the movie and various facets of life it tackles demonstrates its worth both in the rural setting and urban setting in equal measure. It has managed to undertake a comprehensive elucidation of some of the survival mechanisms in urban space along with the importance of recognizing such spaces. Effective planning also involves logical analysis and evaluation of private and public space, social networking, peer pressure, significance of disseminating information, global communities, and problems arising due to lack of family and social support network (Palmerlee 549).

The movie achieved incredible triumph in its planning when it manages to analyze the various mechanism and techniques ordinary people employ to meet their basic needs in a rural set up. It particularly focuses on hardships that trigger a section of the population to engage in morally and legally offensive acts to meet their day-to-day expenditures among other expenses (Palmerlee 549). Maria Alvarez is only seventeen years old and is seeking quick escape from despondency, destitution, and drudgery. She resorted to legally and socially intolerable means to earn a living. She turns to smuggling of drugs. The new development would offer her the opportunity to get hefty yet easy cash. Unfortunately, she dives into this dealing headlong just like most young people not realizing the risks and harsh consequences that would possibly ensue (Palmerlee 549).

The essence of attention on her case is to illustrate how young people stumble over their own poor judgments. The episode represents the costly decisions young people make in attempting to meet their needs amid factors such as ethics, morality, legitimacy, and authority. To most youth, such societal values are hurdles that deter them from accomplishing their childhood dreams (Boyd 140). In essence, majority of the young people have a childhood dream of accessing all that they want in life when they graduate into adults with the means to attaining their ambitions the least of a concern. There is a real sense of despair and anxiety that fills the lives of these young Colombians. In the spirit of ideal planning and to keep it real, the director in collaboration with the crew and cast have ensured that acting, ambience, and the unfolding events are right on the mark (Boyd 140).

The main character, Maria, is so graced with natural splendor and projects humble conduct that makes viewers empathize with her for her disposition. Viewers would be left wondering why her boyfriend would even imagine of passing her up. Many people would perhaps expect him to be madly in love with her. However, that does not happen (Boyd 140). The melancholic music in the entire movie coupled with abundant acoustic guitar playing summarized the touching content of the movie. As a drug mule, Maria realized she was treading on a more dangerous path. The situation worsened when she landed in New York where she found it inexorable to expel her illegal cargo (Boyd 140).

Effectual planning also involved logical analysis and assessment of private and public space, social networking, peer pressure, significance of disseminating information, global communities, and problems arising due to lack of family unit and societal support network. Back in the rural Columbia, Maria benefited from more private and lee public space. However, her involvement in drug trafficking exposed her to higher public space compared to private space. Her travel to New York only worsened the situation of her public life because she became subject to public scrutiny together with her dealings (Boyd 140).

Similarly, social networking and peer pressure influenced however decision to engage in the illegal business. She was particularly motivated by stories of the achievements of young people in her days who were either involved in legitimate businesses or illegal dealings. Some of those involved in unlawful business ventures like her never fell in the hands of law enforcement agencies (Judith & Terri 248). The film analyzes the various methods of disseminating information to create more unswerving planning skills. Overall, the decisions of the main characters are quite sudden. However, their implications and interpretations make the characters absolutely believable. In his piece, Marston emphasizes in his planning, the role of global community in alleviating various challenges that young people go through in their attempt to meet their needs (Judith & Terri 248).

Conclusion

It is the responsibility of every member of the society to nurture and cultivate ethics, acceptable behavior, and values in the lives of the youth. The economically privileged members of the society should extend their help to the hopeless and desperate members whose majority comprises the young people (Judith & Terri 248). Lack of family as well as social support is also highlighted by the film. The family and society in general should extend social and financial support to young people as this would help them live meaningful lives and refrain from engaging in illicit activities.

 Works Cited

Blohm, Judith M, and Terri Lapinsky. Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience.  Boston: Intercultural Press, 2006. Print. 248

Boyd, Susan C. Hooked: Drug War Films in Britain, Canada, and the United States. Toronto:  University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print. 140

Palmerlee, Danny. South America on a Shoestring: [big Trips on Small Budgets]. Footscray  (Vic.: Lonely Planet Publications, 2007. Print. 549