La Leyenda Negra
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La Leyenda Negra
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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 La Leyenda Negra is a bilingual coming-of-age film about a young woman whose future is threatened by the U.S. government's anti-immigration policies. It features LBGTQ+ themes, as well as some strong innuendo, including crude references and sexual activity. There's plenty of cursing in both Spanish and English, including "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole." There's also teen drinking and pot smoking. There's bullying behavior, fighting, and some illicit protest activities, but no blood or injuries are shown. Institutional racism, homophobia, and underground activism are also themes.
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What's the Story?
LA LEYENDA NEGRA follows an El Salvadorian teenager and activist attending high school in California. Aleteia (Monica Betancourt) has just transferred to a new school in Compton, where she's surrounded by students and faculty who are unwilling or unable to acknowledge the discrimination Latinx immigrants are being subjected to. As a way of making herself heard, she associates with an underground group of anarchists committed to putting an end to the government's various discriminatory policies. Aleteia, who has lived all her life in the U.S., is looking forward to finishing high school and going to UCLA on an academic scholarship. But when the Trump Administration announces the end of the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program for El Salvador, it puts her legal status in jeopardy. Things get even more complicated as the group's protest activities become more violent, and bullies like Monica (Irlanda Moreno) zero in on her, especially when she starts spending time with the popular Rosarito (Kailei Lopez).
Is It Any Good?
This bilingual coming-of-age indie film tells a difficult and complex story about what it's like for a young immigrant woman still discovering who she is while facing the fear of an uncertain future. As Aleteia's story unfolds, it is propped up against "la leyenda negra" (the black legend), which some argue is a myth created by British Protestants to inaccurately portray Spanish Catholics as cruel and intolerant colonizers. For Aleteia, it is the U.S. government that is now the source of persecution against her people, as it reinforces the institutionalized racism and homophobia that she is forced to navigate, and fight against, to survive.
The film is shot in black and white, highlighting the stark choices that Aleteia, and young people like her, are being forced to make. The actors, who were cast from local Compton high schools, authentically recreate the lived experiences of many Latinx youth in the area. But what makes La Leyenda Negra so compelling is the simple but powerful way it portrays a strong, young, Latinx woman who -- after growing up in the United States legally -- suddenly finds her hopes for a better future slipping away while being threatened with criminalization and deportation to a country she has never known. It is a poignant and honest reminder of the fears and uncertainties many young immigrants are living with in today's America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why people from specific countries receive Temporary Protection Status (TPS) from the United States. Why were these protections terminated after 2016? What happens to people who have been the U.S. for many years after the program is canceled?
La Leyenda Negra is an example of how fictional TV shows and movies can call attention to important political and social issues impacting Latinx communities in the United States. Can you think of any others? Check out some of Common Sense's Latinx-themed viewing suggestions for all ages.
What are some ways you can relate to Aleteia? Does she remind you of anyone you know? Do you have things in common with her? How does she cope with some of the obstacles facing her?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 4, 2020
- Cast: Monica Betancourt, Kailei Lopez, Irlanda Moreno
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 7, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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