A cursory Google search for "the best rom-coms of all time" takes you down a nostalgic rabbit hole, filled with gems from the '90s and early '00s like "10 Things I Hate About You," "While You Were Sleeping," and "P.S. I Love You." These timeless classics, along with countless others, have shaped our perception of love on the silver screen. However, through these films, love has often been portrayed through the lens of white protagonists, leaving many BIPOC communities feeling unseen and unrepresented.
While Latine actresses like Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, and Christina Milian have made their mark in romantic comedies early on (and others have sporadically taken the lead in years since, like Gina Rodriguez in "Someone Great"), the entertainment industry has, for years, undervalued and underrepresented Latine communities both on screen and behind the camera.
Camila Mendes is here to change that narrative. You might recognize her from rom-coms like "Palm Springs," "The Perfect Date," and "The New Romantic" — but she's also stepping into the role of executive producer for the new film "Música," which stars and is directed by her boyfriend, Rudy Mancuso.
"As much as we love the rom-coms of the '90s and early 2000s, things have changed," she says. "That doesn't mean we have to make overtly woke rom-coms, but it's more about finding ways to make them more interesting and grounded in the experience of finding love today."
Indeed, "Música" broadens the scope of what it means to be Latine on screen, offering a much-needed portrayal of the specific Brazilian American experience. The film follows Mancuso's character, also named Rudy, as he navigates the complexities of family life, romance, and career decisions — all while living with a rare neurological condition called rhythmic synesthesia, which causes him to experience multiple senses simultaneously.
The film is loosely based on Mancuso's own life, where music serves as a solution to everything. It charts his upbringing and uses the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, NJ, a hub for the Brazilian community, as a vibrant backdrop.
Mendes stars as Isabella, Rudy's love interest, and her role in "Música" is particularly special due to the authenticity of her own cultural background as a Brazilian American. It's also her first time taking on a role that allows her to draw directly from her own heritage, and she even gets to speak Portuguese, in which she's fluent.
"It was an opportunity I had been waiting for my entire career, and I honestly wasn't sure if I would ever get that chance," Mendes says. "I thought I might have to create it myself. I had plans to [do something similar], but this project came along at the perfect time, and it was like a dream come true to finally play my authentic culture instead of having to pretend to be someone else."
While Latine actresses like Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, and Christina Milian have made their mark in romantic comedies early on (and others have sporadically taken the lead in years since, like Gina Rodriguez in "Someone Great"), the entertainment industry has, for years, undervalued and underrepresented Latine communities both on screen and behind the camera.
"It was an opportunity I had been waiting for my entire career, and I honestly wasn't sure if I would ever get that chance," Mendes says. "I thought I might have to create it myself. I had plans to [do something similar], but this project came along at the perfect time, and it was like a dream come true to finally play my authentic culture instead of having to pretend to be someone else."
Mendes underscores the necessity to broaden the portrayal of Latinos in these movies and the crucial role of highlighting Latinos from diverse backgrounds. She remarks, "We have witnessed countless romantic comedies and numerous overused scenarios. It's refreshing to have a novel perspective and incorporate a cultural aspect that is typically absent in such films. It's a welcome breath of fresh air to bring this diversity to the forefront."
