Waterberry Tears

By: Amos Lassen

Goyo lives with parents in a trailer in the grape fields of Coachella Valley. He has a hard time hiding his sexuality from his father but hopes that Ramon, his father will accept him. Ramon, however, is a strict Mexican immigrant who is at great odds with homosexuality and will not accept his son if he is gay. Things get really intense when Goyo and his sister, Rosa, fall in love with the same guy. The situation is compounded by the fact that Goyo's family is traditional and tightly knit.

Goyo is about to graduate from high school and really has no problem with his sexuality but he knows he must hide it from his father. Rosa, his twin, supports him and his mother is understanding but it is his father who is by nature angry and disdainful. When Lucio, a local farmhand who is new in town makes sexual advances on both Goyo and his sister but everything comes to a head when Rosa marries him.

The screenwriter, Jaime Soria, says that the script is based on his own experiences growing up in a traditional Mexican family as well on stories that he has heard from others. Since he is a school counselor he has had the opportunity to hear tales. He tells us that Goyo's situation is not unique and happens in Mexican immigrant families.

The name of the film is also interesting. Waterberry is a table grape that is watery and soft when it is ripe and has no use in -making. They are usually thrown out.

Adrian Aldez who directed the film tells us that most of the cast were volunteers who also worked behind the scenes. He brings us the story of a family that works hard and we see its traditions, aspirations and challenges. We also see how the parents want everything to be better for their children ad want them to be happy even though they may not always understand them.