Boca Chica — directed by Gabriella A. Moses and released in 2023 — rejects sensationalism, which forces the audience to appreciate the reality of Desi’s struggles and her joys. Several scenes across the runtime of the film portray major plot points that are key development in Desi’s life, but they are not given any of the semblance of spectacle that other films default to. For example, when an adult man creepily hits on Desi when she’s out at night, the film allows the gravity of the experience speak for itself without playing it up dramatically; this makes it feel all the more soberingly realistic.
This sort of awful thing happens every day, all over the world, and especially in places like the titular Boca Chica. To cinematically dramatize it would be to detract enormously from the reality of Desi’s life. The same is also true of Desi’s personal triumphs, like the at the film’s climax, where she performs her autobiographical rap that expresses her experience and reflects poorly on her family. This is admittedly the most sensational moment of the film, but still it is markedly understated for what it is. It’s a big moment for Desi personally, much more than it is an entertaining spectacle.
