¡Cóme! (Eat!)
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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¡Cóme! (Eat!)
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that ¡Cóme! (Eat!) is a short-film about a 12-year-old girl named Isabella who is struggling with what it means to be of Puerto Rican heritage and living in the mainland United States. It's a fairly serious drama that isn't targeted at young kids, but there's not too much mature content. There is one scene where Isabella's mother is dismissive of her desire to eat more 'American' foods, and her mother says, "Shut your mouth before I smack you." This verbal hostility may be upsetting to kids coming from a parental figure. Otherwise, the short film may be a useful starting point for parents and kids to talk about how their personal identities make them feel left out sometimes. Note that much of the film is in Spanish, and reading subtitles quickly may be difficult for younger non-Spanish speaking kids.
Community Reviews
Great family movie!
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What's the Story?
The short film ¡Cóme! (Eat!) begins with 12-year-old Isabella's disappointment over her classmates rejecting the arroz con leche dessert she brings to her class's Thanksgiving party. When she gets home from school that day, she asks her mom if they can have some more traditionally American dishes at Thanksgiving this year, like mashed potatoes and green beans. Her mom, dad, and abuela laugh dismissively and then get angry that she doesn't want their usual Puerto Rican dishes. Isabella returns to school the next day and is embarrassed of her packed lunch of plaintains, rice, and beans, which looks very different than her friends' lunches. Her teacher notices and shares that she used to feel embarassed about her lunches too, but then she felt glad that she got to share some of her culture with her friends. After the teacher's intervention, Isabella has more pride in her Puerto Rican food heritage and asks her abuela to show her how to cook some dishes.
Is It Any Good?
¡Cóme! (Eat!) reflects an experience many kids have when their parents send them to school with lunches that don't fit into the usual PB&J mold. The storyline of a kid's non-'American' lunch making them feel out-of-place has been represented in many types of media, and this particular short film doesn't exactly explore new territory. Many kids may see themselves reflected on screen, but this serious and understated film won't have natural appeal for the middle school demographic close in age to lead character Isabella. Understanding and embracing your identities can be a messy, complicated process. While ¡Cóme! (Eat!) isn't perfect, it may be a good jumping off point for discussion between grown-ups and kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Isabella is trying to understand more about her identity, or how she thinks of herself. Is she Puerto Rican? Is she American? Is there any part of your identity that you're trying to figure out?
Isabella's family is angry when she suggests cooking more typical "American" food for Thanksgiving and they say "she thinks she's American." Why do you think they have this reaction when they do, in fact, live in the mainland United States?
Families can talk about how Isabella feels self conscious about the food she brings to school. Can you think of a time when you worried about what your classmates thought about you? What do you worry makes you seem different?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 1, 2021
- Cast: Noa Garcia
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cooking and Baking, Middle School
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: September 29, 2021
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