Leticia’s Thong of Courage

In "Tortilla Soup", a retired chef named Martin Naranjo, has three very individual adult daughters who are living at home discovering their own recipe for happiness. The eldest daughter, Leticia is a conservative high school chemistry teacher who converted from being Catholic to a born-again Christian. She is clearly shown in the movie as “conservative” because we see her with her knee length skirt and sweater, who has just came from church. She also prays out loud before her meals, vigorously pleading for blessings, etc. Yet, quickly enough you notice she is repressing or lacking something in her life.

In the middle of an argument within the sisters, Leticia tells them that her life is to stay at home taking care of their father, not to go and sleep with every man she’s dated (said specifically to Carmen). Yet, funny enough many times we seem to call out others on their “flaws”,simply because we long to have the courage to do something they have. Consequently, Leticia was not looking to have sex with many men, but she was definitely longing for romance or passion in her life. Every time another character suggests something to Leticia, she shoves the advice away but only for so long. One example of this is in the very beginning of the movie when she strolls into the salon to visit her friend and the hair stylist advices her to cut her hair for a new fresh look. She pulls away and makes it clear she doesn’t want this “new fresh do” but before she leaves the salon she pauses and glances in the mirror trying to visualize how this new "change" might just look. Another is when her friend’s mother comes to visit and advices her to put some cream on her eyes(because of slight wrinkles)since she’s the oldest and still not married, then maybe she'll get more luck. Only until later you notice at night while she reads some cards that she is again looking in the mirror applying cream to her eyes. This can be very symbolic and tuning us in on her “inner thoughts” because she is getting older and is still not married, therefore, all the advice she is given and ponders about is only reflected on her physical being.

Soon enough we notice the feelings she might have been repressing or longing for are some romance in her life. Leticia finds herself attracted to Orlando Castillo, a baseball coach at her school. Funny enough her students prank her by making fake love notes, meanwhile, she believes it is from him. When one of the notes says he loves her and she finds the courage to stroll down to the baseball field and tell him her deep emotions. Maybe the courage was from her thinking she looked nice that day because she had her hair down and nicely down, with make-up, and let’s not forget her thong. This put together, Jesus loving, conservative woman was only looking for love. When unexpectedly at dinner she tells her father that she and Orlando have gotten married in Las Vegas. Through her character we can tell that though people may be conservative, they still have surprises or some unexpected ingredients waiting to be heated up.