Parents' Guide to Mija

This is a watchable, moving documentary about two young Latinas trying to make it in the music industry -- one as a manager and the other as an artist. Director Castro, a Mexican American documentarian, creates a sense of intimacy as she weaves Doris' and Jacks' stories together. At the beginning of Mija, Doris is thriving as Cuco's manager, reveling in his success as a rising pop star. But Doris' story is also about family separation, the difficulties of being undocumented in America (she was born in the States, but her parents don't have their papers), and feeling responsible for one's family. Castro highlights how Doris juggles her high expectations, her dreams for being "somebody" in the entertainment field, and the reality of being separated from her older brother, who was deported back to Mexico. Despite all the setbacks, Doris is ultimately optimistic, particularly once Jacks enters the scene.

Castro contrasts Doris' more established (if still burgeoning) career with Jacks' inexperience. The two young women need each other, and, more importantly, Doris understands what Jacks is going through -- particularly in trying to explain lofty ambitions to worried parents. The music is a memorable mix from Latino musicians, including Cuco and Jacks, as well as tracks from a variety of other acts, like the Marias and a score by Helado Negro. Ultimately, this film is a tribute to how, as the Hamilton lyrics say, "immigrants get the job done," especially in industries where they have to be scrappy, smart, and tenacious to thrive.