From Prada To Nada (2011)

From Prada to Nada is an American romantic comedy film directed by Angel Garcia and produced by Gary Gilbert, Linda McDonough, Gigi Pritzker and Chris Ranta. The plot was conceived from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.The screen play was adapted by Luis Alfaro, Craig Fernandez and Fina Torres to be a Latino version of the English novel, where two spoiled sisters who have been left penniless after their father's sudden death are forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles.

Pantelion Films (joint venture of Lionsgate and Televisa) opened this film in limited theatrical release in the United States on January 28, 2011. In the United States, this film grossed $3 million theatrically;the box office result met Pantelion's expectation.

Plot

The film opens with Nora studying law and Mary shopping. They head to their home, Casa Bonita, for their father's birthday. While dancing with their father, he falls and dies.

At the funeral they meet Gabe Dominguez, a half brother who resulted from an affair their father had years ago. At the reading of their father's will, they discover that they are bankrupt. Nora and Mary sell their house to Gabe, who lets them live with he and his wife, Olivia. They meet Olivia's brother, Edward, when he visits for lunch. During lunch, Olivia tells the sisters that they must move out of the house. Before they leave, their maid gives Nora a box left by their father.

The two sisters go to East L.A. to live with their maternal aunt, Aurelia, where they are introduced to Bruno, their aunt's neighbor. Later, Nora opens the box from her father and finds letters addressed to Gabe. Nora decides to quit law school and get a job and tells Mary to finish college. Their aunt sells Mary's car and Prada purse ('from Prada to nada'). Edward arrives and gives Mary and Nora stuff from their old home, offering Nora a job in his law office - which she declines. Nora finds a job on her own, and on the bus ride to work she meets a woman who has been fired from her job as a maid. When Nora arrives at her new job she learns that her boss is Edward. Nora and Edward work together on the case for the cleaning ladies, wining a judgment when they discover that there has been a fraud with their payroll.

Mary returns to college, where she meets and flirts with teaching assistant Rodrigo. She gets a ride home from him, directing him to her childhood mansion rather than her aunt's house in East L.A. They later share a kiss over lunch and, later still she admits that she no longer lives in the mansion, suggesting to Rodrigo that he buy her old house.

Mary visits Bruno's house and make a deal that, if Bruno can make the aunt's backyard look good for a party dedicated to Mexican Independence Day, he can have a dance with Mary. On the day of the party, Bruno watches how Mary dances with Rodrigo. Bruno later declines Mary's offer of a dance to complete the decoration agreement. Edward later arrives at the party, finding Nora drunk on tequila. They go into the kitchen where they kiss. After that, Nora feels bad because she is not supposed to act like that and tells Edward that she needs to focus on her career.

The next day Nora finds out that she has received a promotion, while Mary is shown to have slept with Rodrigo. When Rodrigo drops Mary at her aunt's home in the morning he tells her he is going to Mexico for a few weeks. When Nora asks Mary if loves Rodrigo, Mary tells her that she just wants to go back home and that Rodrigo can make that happen, for which Nora calls her a whore. Mary and Nora start to ignore each other. Nora quits Edward's law firm and opens a free legal service from her aunt's home.

The sisters receive an invitation from Olivia to attend Edward's engagement party at their former home. When they arrive at the party they are welcomed lovingly by their former house staff. Mary and Gabe go their father's office - the one part of the house that Olivia has not remodelled - and Mary gives Gabe the letters from their father. Meanwhile, Nora tells Edward why she doesn't count on personal relationships. Mary sees Rodrigo at the party with another woman who turns out to be his wife. Rodrigo tells Mary that he did, indeed, take her recommendation to buy the house. Heartbroken, Mary leaves the party and tries to go home but has a traffic accident, sending her to the hospital. Gabe comes over to visit and reveals that he and Olivia split up. Mary returns home from the hospital in a wheelchair and neck brace. The next day, Mary goes over to Bruno's house, where he is shown teaching kids how to paint. They admit their feelings for each other and share a kiss. Edward arrives and tells Nora that they bought a house and presents her with the deed for her to co-sign and an engagement ring. The film ends with Nora and Edward's wedding and everybody celebrating.

Cast

Camilla Belle as Nora Dominguez - the elder daughter of the Dominguezes. She is a law student who does not want to put relationships above her career. She starts to fall for Olivia's brother, Edward and marries him at the end of the film. counterpart to Elinor Dashwood.

Alexa Vega as Mary Dominguez - the younger daughter of the Dominguezes. She loves to shop and stay thin. She at first falls for Rodrigo until she finds out he is married. She then falls for Bruno, her aunt's neighbor. counterpart to Marianne Dashwood.

Wilmer Valderrama as Bruno - the next door neighbor of Aunt Aurelia who falls for Mary. counterpart to Colonel Brandon

Nicholas D'Agosto as Edward - the brother of Olivia who falls for Nora and becomes her husband. counterpart to Edward Ferrars

Kuno Becker as Rodrigo Fuentes - the married love interest of Mary. At first they date until Mary finds out he is married. counterpart to John Willoughby.

Adriana Barraza as Aurelia Dominguez - the aunt of Nora and Mary.

April Bowlby as Olivia-Gabe's mean, selfish wife and Edward's sister. counterpart to Fanny Dashwood

Alexis Ayala as Gabe Dominguez Sr. - Nora, Mary and Gabe's father. counterpart to Henry Dashwood

Pablo Cruz Guerrero as Gabe Dominguez Jr. - half brother of Nora and Mary and husband of Olivia. counterpart to John Dashwood.

Catalina López as Trinita

Luis Rosales as Juan

Directed by

Angel Gracia

Produced by

Gary Gilbert

Linda McDonough

Gigi Pritzker

Chris Ranta

Screenplay by

Luis Alfaro

Craig Fernandez

Fina Torres

Starring

Camilla Belle

Alexa Vega

Wilmer Valderrama

Nicholas D'Agosto

Kuno Becker

Adriana Barraza

Music by

Heitor Pereira

Cinematography

Héctor Ortega

Editing by

Brad McLaughlin

Studio

Televisa

Odd Lot Entertainment

Distributed by

Lions Gate

Pantelion Films

Release date(s)

January 28, 2011

Running time

107 minutes

Country

United States

Language

English, Spanish

Het Verhaal

Twee verwende Latina zusjes moeten hun mooie leventje vaarwel zeggen wanneer hun rijke vader plotseling overlijdt en ze geen cent meer hebben. Noodgedwongen moeten ze intrekken bij hun tante die ze al in geen tijden meer gezien hebben, en die bovendien in de achterbuurten van East Los Angeles woont...