- IMDb page: Filly Brown (2012)
- Rate: 4.4/10 total 214 votes
- Genre: Drama | Music
- Release Date: 19 April 2013 (USA)
- Runtime: 80 min
- Filming Location: Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Budget: $1,250,000 (estimated)
- Stars: Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera, Lou Diamond Phillips | See full cast and crew
- Original Music By: Reza Safinia
- Soundtrack: Hurts So Bad
Known Trivia
- Singer Jenni Rivera's film debut and final film. She tragically perished in airplane crash in Mexico on December 9, 2012, months before the film's release.
Plot: A promising hip-hop rhymer from Los Angeles finds herself in a gray area when a record producer offers her a compromising shot at stardom. Full summary » »
Story: Maria Jose 'Majo' Tonorio is a tough LA street poet who spits from the heart. After meeting a talented DJ she cuts her first demo under the guidance of a small time hustler more interested in promoting Majo's sexuality than her lyrics. Soon a major label and its strong-arm executive come calling. Convinced that a record deal will deliver much needed money for the family, Majo is suddenly faced with some stark choices. Does she accept the deal and turn her back on the friends who got her to the precipice of success or does she let a golden opportunity slip away. Written byAnonymous
Synopsis: FILLY BROWN is an inspiring and gritty portrait of a young artist striving to find her voice and seize her dreams without compromise. Majo Tonorio, aka, Filly Brown is a young, raw hip-hop artist from Los Angeles who spits rhymes from the heart. With a mother in prison and a father struggling to provide for his daughters, Majo knows that a record contract could be her familys ticket out. But when a record producer offers her a shot at stardom, she is suddenly faced with the prospect of losing who she is as an artist, as well as the friends who helped her reach the cusp of success. Directed by Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos, FILLY BROWN is propelled by an exceptional cast featuring Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward James Olmos and the legendary Jenni Rivera in her final on-screen performance. Fueled by a fierce hip-hop score, FILLY BROWN heralds the arrival of Gina Rodriguez in the electrifying title role.
Produced By:
- Gina Rodriguez known as Majo Tonorio
- Jenni Rivera known as Maria Tonorio
- Lou Diamond Phillips known as Jose Tonorio
- Edward James Olmos known as Leandro
- Emilio Rivera known as Mani
- Noel Gugliemi known as Big Cee
Production Companies:
- Cima Productions
- Olmos Productions
- Silent Giant Entertainment
- Local Hero post-production facilities
- Monkeyland Audio post-production sound services
- Monkeyland Audio sound re-recording
- Numb Robot Post Production Facilities
- Pantelion Films (2013) (USA) (theatrical)
- Indomina Releasing (2012) (USA) (all media)
MPAA: Rated R for language, some drug use and violence
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
Amazing film! I am 54 years old and do not consider myself a fan of hiphop. But this film tears at your heart strings. I just can't stopthinking about it. Congratulations on a job well done. I certainly hopeit makes it to the theaters for all to see. So glad I was able to enjoyit at Sundance! The characters in the story were vulnerable and loveable, even though their imperfections were well defined. I was on theedge of my seat through the whole movie and am even wondering aboutchanging my opinion of Hip Hop! Good cast, good directing and excellentcrew all around. We will be seeing Gina Rodriguez again! Wow! I amhappy to give this film a top review.
ReplyDeleteHaving gone to Sundance with a theology class and having viewed a tonof films, this was by far a favorite of the week. When I saw thecurrent rating I felt compelled to share a brief snippet of what I gotout of the film.
ReplyDeleteHonest, Authentic, Redemptive. This is a story about a young girl whoselove for her mother drives her into the hustle of the underground Latinmusic industry. As she catches momentum and the attention of some bignames, her integrity is put to the test.
What is most inspiring about the film are the family dynamics. Itreally portrays commitment to family, despite the lies, manipulation,and imperfection of the human condition. Majo (Gina Rodriguez) iscommitted to seeing her mother's life redeemed, despite the dissuasionof her immediate family members, and the latter discovery that she wasduped into financially supporting her mother's expensive drug habit.
Gina Rodriguez's performance is gritty, strong, and powerful. She trulyis the driving force of the film. We found out in the interview thatfollowed the film that the actress went through months of training tolearn the craft of rap and spoken word. You would never guess she isn'ta natural.
The musical score is also helps to drive the storyline. We were blessedto have gotten some insight from the directors who explained themusical journey of the film was specifically planned to mirror whatcould be an authentic musical journey for a Latina in the music world.Majo starts out with slam poetry, turns to underground Latin rap, getspicked up by a major label and her music becomes over produced, andeventually finds her true voice.
However, I would venture to say that the music does more than justfurther the plot. The music follows the hero's journey towardsauthenticity, as she overcomes her fear of speaking the truth and stepsinto her identity as a daughter, sister, and friend. It also assists inrevealing her calling to be an unabashedly truthful musical artist.
I am a mid twenties white female that does not listen to rap or hip hopmusic or have a interest in spoken word poetry. Not only did I findmyself enjoying the music itself, but I was gripped by the universaltruths in this film and felt myself relating to the situations andcharacters on a deeper level.